BERNE, Switzerland -- Buffalo Sabres defenseman Uwe Krupp of West Germany was expelled from the World Hockey Championships Monday and banned from international play for 18 months for having taken stimulants.
The International Ice Hockey Federation said Krupp tested positive in both the IIHF's mandatory urine tests. The ban is not expected to affect his NHL career.
Dr. Erwin Hipp, one of two West German team physicians at Monday's news conference, said the tests showed traces of Phentermin, a drug sold without prescription in the United States and often used as a diet pill. Krupp said some NHL players use the stimulant to combat jet lag.
Contrary to earlier statements, the drug involved was not Sudafed, a cold medication. Hipp said the tablets Krupp took will be analyzed further.
'Krupp probably took the tablets without realizing that they contained substances not permitted by IIHF rules,' Hipp said. 'Therefore, he did not think it worth mentioning when we asked him. He thought they were harmless.'
Hipp said Krupp told him that he takes multi-vitamins on a daily basis. No brand-name was given.
'It can only be that they contained Phentermin as well,' Hipp said.
Hipp called the drug a 'psycho-stimulant' and said it was removed from the market in West Germany 15 years ago because of damaging side-effects.
Krupp played in two games at this tournament and was West Germany's only player not on the ice for an opponent's goal. He was not available for further comment and flew to Buffalo Monday.
Dr. Dieter Montag, head of the IIHF drug commission, said there are 16 different brand names of drugs containing Phentermin sold over the counter in the United States, most serving as diet pills.
Darcy Rota, the NHL's liaison to the league's players at the World Championships, said the NHL has no policy on drugs that are legal.
