Entire Russian U18 Team Booted For Doping

[Nik Bethune]

I wasn't quite sure where to put this and it's one heck of a weird story but:

http://deadspin.com/reports-entire-russian-u18-hockey-team-replaced-before-1769366600

If you click through it's a bizarre story that isn't quite as simple as a bunch of players cheating. Still, it's weird as heck.

[CarltonTheBear]

After Sharapova there were a lot of rumblings that plenty more Russian teams/people were going to get hit with this. And this hockey team isn't the first since her either. One thing that I haven't been quite clear about is whether people are getting busted for having taken it before January 1st or after. Seems a little unfair if they're being punished for having it in their system from before it was banned. Also feel pretty bad for these kids in particular either way. Just a bunch of teenagers who are obviously just taking what they're being told to by their coaches and trainers.

I've also read from a few places that this drug doesn't really do that much to enhance performance, like this one: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/04/05/meldonium-experts-wada-performance-enhancing-drug/82663156/.

Although when it's being pumped into an entire team like this it certainly raises some questions.

[Frank E]

If someone were to ask me what country's team just got busted for drugs Russia.

[Nik Bethune]

Although when it's being pumped into an entire team like this it certainly raises some questions.

One it raises for me, and I say this with 100% ignorance about the drug, what happened to the player I'm about to mention and whether or not the two of them are connected, is what happened to Alexei Cherepanov. Again, I have no way of knowing if one has anything to do with the other but finding out that taking this thing sold as an over the counter heart medication is common in Europe and in young Russian players specifically...well, I hope the two aren't connected. 

[herman]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/russian-players-drop-in-priority-for-nhl-after-doping-scandal/article29563476

This particular Russian under-18 team was also highly anticipated by scouts as this was the first year the Russians tried to emulate the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) by having them play together as one centralized elite club all season. In part because some of Canada’s top junior players are still playing in the Canadian Hockey League playoffs, the United States has dominated the world under-18 event. The USNTDP has won eight of the past 11 gold medals and finished in the top three for 12 successive years.

Also: Tim Murray (Sabres GM) makes scouting decisions based on recency bias.

“It definitely hurts [their draft ranking] from my standpoint,” Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray said. “I’ve only seen Rubstov once and others zero times. My scouts have seen them, but a late, positive viewing goes a long way. It’s human nature.”

Here's to hoping the Leafs can capitalize on underscouted potential from the Russian sector due to our scouting presence there. Rubstov was on my radar for the Pens' pick, or our 2nd rder if he was available.