Nicklas Backstrom could not compete in the Olympics due to his allergy medication.
Nicklas Backstrom, a 26-year-old professional hockey player with the Washington Capitals and member of the Swedish hockey team during the 2014 Sochi games, saw his Olympic dreams ripped away from him when he was banned from competing in the gold medal game against Canada this past weekend. Backstrom was told he could not play in the game by the International Olympic Committee after testing positive for an illegal substance. What he tested positive for was his allergy medication.
Backstrom has suffered from asthma for the past seven years and, as he told reporters after the IOC made their decision, has never hidden the fact that he takes medication to control his symptoms. Before traveling to Sochi, he listed his medicine as one of the substances he regularly takes, never concealing his condition from Olympic officials. His allergy medication contained pseudoephedrine, which is on the list of the IOC’s banned items.
Backstrom and the coaches of Team Sweden expressed their frustration with the organization’s ruling, even citing the case of a defenseman from Slovakia who tested for the same substance as Backstrom but was allowed to be retested and to ultimately compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. While Backstrom had to watch Sweden’s 3-0 loss to Canada from the Olympic Village, the National Hockey League has stated that there will be no further consequences, as pseudoephedrine is not banned by the league.
If you suffer from allergies like Backstrom there are steps you can take to help alleviate your symptoms on a daily basis. Keep the air in your home fresh and free from pollutants by investing in a filterless air purifier from US Air Purifiers Direct 2U.