MOSCOW – The Kontinental Hockey League has suspended three players due to doping violations it announced on Tuesday.

During the 2016/2017 ice hockey season, the KHL together with the IIHF and SportAccord’s Doping Free Sport Unit (DFSU) took 377 samples and announced three suspensions after having been informed by the IIHF Disciplinary Committee about three positive samples.

The following suspensions were announced:

1. Derek Smith, club 2016/2017: Medvescak Zagreb (CRO), suspended until 2 September 2018 for use of a prohibited substance according to section S6.a of the World Anti-Doping Code 2017 Prohibited List (Stimulants).

2. Andrei Konev, club 2016/2017: Admiral Vladivostok (RUS), suspended until 19 November 2017 for use of a prohibited substance according to section S6.b of the World Anti-Doping Code 2017 Prohibited List (Stimulants).

3. Danis Zaripov, club 2016/2017: Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RUS), signed for 2017/2018 by Ak Bars Kazan, suspended until 22 May 2019 for use of a prohibited substance according to section S6.b of the World Anti-Doping Code 2017 Prohibited List (Stimulants) and section S5 (Diuretics and Masking Agents).