VANCOUVER — The Swedish wheelchair curling team at the 2010 Paralympics has been rocked with news one of its players, Glenn Ikonen, has been hit with a two-year suspension by the International Paralympic Committee for the use of an illegal drug.

The two-year ban is subject to review, but Ikonen has been withdrawn from the team for the balance of the 2010 Games.

The news came just hours before the Swedish team was due to take on Italy Friday in a tiebreaker game to decide the fourth and final playoff spot.

The drug in question, which is on the IPC banned list, is the beta blocker metoprolol manufactured by Sandoz used to control high blood pressure.

Ikonen was subject to a random drug test two days ago and was just informed of the result and the subsequent ban at lunch time Friday.

“Of course I’m terribly sad. I’m in shock,” said Ikonen. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything.”

The 54-year-old Ikonen said he has been on medication for high blood pressure for years. The beta blocker was prescribed for him by his doctor back home in Sweden.

“Before I left Sweden I told my doctor I didn’t want to take anything that would not be approved. Of course I’m disappointed that he didn’t know. I trusted my doctor. I would never take anything that I thought was illegal for sports.”

Hans Safstrom, the Chef de Mission for the Swedish team said he totally believes Ikonen’s explanation that the incident was a misunderstanding on the part of the athlete.

Swedish team doctor Magnus Sunblad said, unlike some other sports such as biathlon, there is no advantage in curling to using a drug like a beta blocker, which helps to slow down the pumping rate of the heart.

Vancouver Sun

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