Hobey Baker Award winner Dryden McKay will accept a six-month period of ineligibility handed down by the USADA for an anti-doping rule violation.
The goaltender confirmed his decision so he'll be allowed to play in October. McKay recently completed his senior year at Minnesota State-Mankato and can now sign with an NHL team.
McKay, who was an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team ahead of the Beijing Games, tested positive for ostarine on Jan. 23. He could've been banned from competing for four years, but he ultimately proved the positive result came from a contaminated vitamin D supplement.
The USADA notified the 24-year-old of a provisional suspension on Feb. 1, according to McKay.
McKay said he immediately sent all of his supplements to an independent lab upon learning of the positive test. The lab then identified an opened bottle of D3 immune booster as the source. He added he was taking the vitamin for its anti-viral benefits to decrease the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 on the advice of a trainer.
An independent arbitrator lifted the ban on Feb. 3, which enabled McKay to continue playing until the USADA rendered its final decision.
The netminder excelled in his senior year at MSU-Mankato, setting an NCAA record for goaltending wins while leading the Mavericks to the national championship game, which they lost to Denver.
Earlier in April, McKay won the Hobey Baker Award, which the NCAA hands out annually to its top men's hockey player.
McKay will get credit for serving part of the provisional suspension from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2. He can begin practicing with a team on Aug. 25 and play in games as of Oct. 11, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The Illinois-born goalie told Friedman he'll be honest with NHL teams when they ask about the incident.
"I’m just going to tell them, 'I accept the risk that I took the non-certified supplement,'" McKay said. "That’s something I can’t hide from. At the same time, I’m not a cheater. I’m not someone who is trying to get an advantage. I was trying to take care of my body, avoid COVID and stay healthy so I could play the rest of the season. There was no intent."
McKay said on Twitter he's looking forward to starting his pro career in the fall.
