NHL chief presses players to accept tougher dope testing

The National Hockey League (NHL) will push for tougher drug-testing and are ready to embrace World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) standards, the league commissioner Gary Bettman said. The NHL's drug-testing programme is considered the weakest among North America's big four sports leagues and does not include any out-of-competition testing. The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) have fought efforts to introduce tougher testing in the league's anti-doping programme, which includes a maximum of three tests for every player in a year. "I acknowledge that our testing programme could be more comprehensive and it is time the players' association step up to make the changes that Wada has recommended," Bettman said. "While [the NHLPA chief] Paul Kelly has indicated that he is supportive, he believes he needs some time to persuade his members to go along with it."

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