SPORTS

IOC disqualifies second Latvian hockey player for positive doping test at Sochi

The Associated Press Published Friday, April 25, 2014 8:07AM EDT

Finland's Juhamatti Aaltonen, left, vies for the puck with Latvia's Ralfs Freibergs during the 2013 Ice Hockey IIHF World Championships Group B preliminary round match Latvia vs Finland in Helsinki, Tuesday May 14, 2013. (AP / Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari )

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The IOC has retroactively disqualified Latvian hockey player Ralfs Freibergs for failing a doping test at the Sochi Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee says Freibergs tested positive for a banned substance on Feb. 22 after Latvia's 2-1 loss to Canada in the quarterfinals.

A three-person IOC disciplinary panel found him guilty of a doping offence, disqualified him from the Canada game and expelled him from the Sochi Olympics.

Freibergs is the second Latvian hockey player kicked out of the games for doping. Vitalijs Pavlovs was disqualified after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine after the loss to Canada.

Latvia finished eighth in the Olympic tournament, which was won by Canada.