HALIFAX – Upon further review, German forward Florian Busch will remain eligible to compete at the 2008 IIHF World Championship for the following reasons:

• There is a National Anti-Doping Code in place in Germany. Within this code, there is a requirement for each sport to set up an internal disciplinary committee, independent and arm’s length from the sport.
• The German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) has set up such a committee which accepted and acted upon the Florian Busch case, making a decision on April 15, 2008 which was accepted completely and acted upon by the player.
• There is an appeal process set out in the German Anti-Doping Code for all decisions made by these sport-specific internal disciplinary committees. Until all such appeal routes are exhausted, this matter remains a concern within Germany and the various sport and anti-doping agencies there.
• As of May 7, 2008, no agency or sport body within Germany has appealed the decision of the German Ice Hockey Disciplinary Body. Until all such appeals of the German National Anti-Doping Code have been pursued and completed, the IIHF is not in a position to interfere in decisions with its Member National Associations.
• The player Florian Busch thus remains eligible to compete in the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Canada.