Danish ice hockey has been hit by a doping case. On Thursday, Anti-Doping Denmark announced in a press release saying that American player Tyler Farmer has been banned for two years.
This follows the discovery of traces of cocaine in a sample he provided on 27 December last year.
At the time, he was playing for the Aalborg Pirates. He was under contract with the North Jutland club during the past season but subsequently parted ways with the team.
According to Anti-Doping Denmark, Farmer explained that two days prior to the doping test, he had been at a bar in Aalborg with some teammates.
He allegedly consumed two or three drinks paid for by others at the bar. Earlier that evening, he had drunk a couple of beers.
The American fell ill and vomited before two of his teammates walked him home later that night.
Tyler Farmer felt fine again the next day but suspected that someone might have spiked his drinks. Nevertheless, he chose not to inform Anti-Doping Denmark about the incident when he was tested shortly before New Year's.
The B-sample subsequently confirmed the initial result, and last week, Anti-Doping Denmark reached its final decision.
The decision states that the anti-doping agency accepts Farmer's explanation that he did not ingest the substance intentionally or as a performance-enhancing aid.
Consequently, the penalty is two years rather than the four-year ban that a positive doping test typically entails.
The ban takes effect on 10 August of this year. According to the ruling, Farmer has accepted the verdict and its consequences.
The 28-year-old Farmer played 46 games for the Aalborg Pirates. In those games, he recorded five goals and 25 assists.
Aalborg has not yet commented on the verdict.