Arizona Coyotes D Jarred Tinordi Suspended 20 Games For Performance Enhancing Substances

Newly acquired Arizona Coyotes D Jarred Tinordi has been suspended 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

Tinordi was traded to Arizona back in January as part of a three-team deal which included John Scott and Stefan Elliott. Elliott was immediately flipped to Nashville for Victor Bartley.

Only appearing in three games for Montreal prior to the deal, Arizona Coyotes D Jarred Tinordi has since played seven games for his new organization.

via TSN,

Coyotes general manager Don Maloney issued the following statement:

“Late yesterday afternoon, we were made aware of the situation regarding Jarred Tinordi. The Arizona Coyotes organization fully supports the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We will also continue to support Jarred throughout this process. We will have no further comment at this time.”

The NHLPA released the following statement on behalf of Tinordi:

“I am extremely disappointed that I failed a test under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. I did not knowingly take a banned substance. I understand, however, that I am responsible for what enters my body as a professional athlete and I accept the suspension. I will work hard towards my return to the ice and will learn from this frustrating setback.”

It would not be fair to speculate on details this early.

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We saw earlier this week in the Tennis world, Maria Sharapova hold a press conference to announce her failing a drug test for medication she had been taking for nearly a decade. Early reports suggest that much like an 30-page Apple Terms and Conditions agreement, she simply didn’t bother to read the list of 2016 banned substances – yes, it is her responsibility as a pro athlete, but if she was taking it for 10 years, you don’t expect it to show up all of a sudden.

Have you seen the names of medications that have an alphabet worth of letters being used? It would almost be understandable for a fluent English-speaking person to overlook that type of list, let alone a foreign individual with English as a second language.

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So, what does that have to do with Arizona Coyotes D Jarred Tinordi? The point is, there are extenuating circumstances in many situations. Was he intentionally taking something to give himself a competitive edge? Probably not, or he wouldn’t be a borderline NHLer. Did he ignorantly take some form of medication without properly researching it? Possible.

While this is an immediate step back for Jarred Tinordi’s career, perhaps it can be a blessing in disguise. Sometimes in life, you have to fall back to get a better picture and perspective on things.

Take Zack Kassian for example. A highly touted prospect who never panned out in Buffalo, Vancouver, or Montreal. He found himself in the league’s Substance Abuse Program, and was eventually traded to Edmonton once having his suspension lifted. He has since appeared in 23 games, posting six points, looking rejuvenated in the process.

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Arizona Coyotes D Jarred Tinordi needs to use this as a wake-up call. An opportunity to take a step back and re-evaluate his hockey career. He needs to figure out how he can use this experience to make him a more mature, and better person when he comes out the other side. Sometimes in life, our biggest mistakes are the experiences we learn most from.

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