No disqualification for Bäckström

The International Olympic Committee announced yesterday their decision regarding the doping case of Nicklas Bäckström. Bäckström was suspended from the Olympic final after testing positive for pseudoephedrine after the game against Slovenia.

Bäckström had taken a medication against allergies called Zyrted D, which gave the positive test. Bäckström claimed that he taken the medication for many years without failing any doping tests and that the Swedish team Doctor Björn Waldeback had said that one pill per day was okey.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission found that Bäckström had commited an anti-doping rule violation but also stated that the Bäckström had been open and cooperative and that medication was on named on the doping control form. Furthermore there was no indication of any intent of Bäckström to improve his performance by taking a prohibited substance and instead he had relied on the medical advice from the team doctor.

The conclusion was that it was correct to suspend Bäckström from the final game but that he shouldn't be disqualified from the Olympics and should receive his silver medal and diploma from the tournament.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission is critical against the Swedish team doctor Björn Waldebäck's advice to take the medication and makes a statement that IOC should consider not to allow Waldebäck to get accreditation at future Olympic games.

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