Defenseman Bryan Berard of the Columbus Blue Jackets has reportedly been banned from international play for two years (including Olympics and IIHF World Championships) for testing positive for steroids. He was tested in November because he was on a preliminary team USA roster released a month earlier, but he didn't make the final cut for the Torino games.

The report says that since the NHL hadn't started its own testing, and this test was done by the US Anti-Doping Agency, he won't be disciplined by the NHL.

I just don't get why these athletes continue to use steroids. Especially knowing the league is going to test you this season, in addition to the Olympic games.

I am certain this will be the first of a few players to be found playing with steroids, so stay tuned.

Reportedly, Berard used the steroid (19-norandrosterone--is there an 18-norandrosterone or a 20-norandsterone?) during the lockout year as part of his means to stay in playing form.

Recall an interview with Darren Pang when the steroids-in-baseball story first heated up where he said steroid use in hockey is extremely rare but I still wonder why a player wouldn't use them if they aren't testing for them. After all, if they help build muscle & reduce recovery time from injury, why not use them, as long as the league looks the other way?

~Adam