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Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has been suspended three times for improper conduct, the NHL announced Saturday.
Kuznetsov was tested positive for cocaine at the 2019 IIHF World Championship on May 26th. He will not appeal the suspension.
"I am again sorry to have disappointed my family, my teammates, as well as the organization and fans of the Capitals," Kuznetsov said in a statement. "I promise to do everything in my power to reclaim you by my actions on and off the ice.I also understand that I am lucky to have the opportunity to right the situation.
"Thanks to the Capitals, the NHL and the AJLNH, I have taken many steps in the right direction and I am confident that I can continue in this direction, I am grateful for the support of all and I wish go ahead from now on.Although I can understand that people can ask other questions, I will not make any other comments about it. "
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with representatives of Kuznetsov and NHLPA on Monday.
Kuznetsov, 27, is under contract with the Capitals until 2024-2025 and participates in the international competition for Russia, which won the bronze medal in May.
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In May, Kuznetsov appeared in a video, now deleted, which surfaced on social media, in which he was sitting in a hotel room near lines of white powdery substance. Kuznetsov denied having taken any drugs. The NHL opened an investigation into the incident that she quickly closed after five days.
The International Ice Hockey Federation announced in August that it had suspended Kuznetsov from international play for a period of four years – until June 12, 2023.
Kuznetsov led all NHL players with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 2018, allowing the Capitals to win the first Stanley Cup franchise. He scored 21 goals and 51 assists last season for the Capitals, eliminated in the first round of playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes.
"He realizes he's making a mistake," Russian captain and fellow Alex Ovechkin said Thursday. "Sometimes the best thing to do is just support him and be at his side."
The NHL is testing its players for drugs of abuse such as cocaine and marijuana. However, according to the NHL and AJLNH Joint Program on Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health, players are not suspended for positive tests. On the contrary, if program administrators report "abnormally high levels" of any substance, the veil of anonymity is lifted and doctors may recommend treatment. The player is not obliged to enter the program if he does not want it.
On October 2, Washington will travel to St. Louis, the Stanley Cup champion, in St. Louis.
Emily Kaplan and ESPN's Associated Press contributed to this report.
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