January 1st (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

KHL FIRES OMSK DOCTORS


As a result of the latest revelations regarding the death of Avangard Omsk forward Alexei Cherepanov last October, the KHL Disciplinary committe has removed the team's doctors from that role with the team.

In Addition, the committee requested the suspension of Avangard General Manager Anatoly Bardin and team president Konstantin Potapov until the investigation being conducted by the Russian Federal Prosecutor's Office is concluded, as the Prosecutor's Office released a statement indicating that performance enhancing drugs had been found in Cherepanov's system.

The KHL revealed more details in their own press release Tuesday.

"As the federal investigation's report clearly shows, Alexei Cherepanov, had been suffering from chronic myocarditis for at least a year," the KHL release stated, "This disease should preclude participation in professional sports, such as hockey. Further, kordiamin, a drug used to treat cardiovascular disease and to stimulate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems was found in Cherepanov's blood.

"It was found that Cherepanoc had been injected with kordiamin three hours before the start of the game between Vityaz and Avangard on October 13, 2008."

Kordiamin is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The KHL Disciplinary Committee will meet again on this matter January 5, and any further findings are expected to be made public on January 15.

Cherepanov, 19, had played 15 games this season for Omsk Avangard, before he died shortly after collapsing on the bench during a KHL game on October 13.