Hockey player had drink spiked with cocaine but is still handed doping suspension

[p][b]Danish ice hockey has been hit by a doping case. On Thursday, Anti-Doping Denmark announced in a press release saying that American player Tyler Farmer has been banned for two years.[/b][/p][p]This follows the discovery of traces of cocaine in a sample he provided on 27 December last year.[/p][p]At the time, he was playing for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aalborg-pirates/naGUMO7k/"]Aalborg Pirates[/a]. He was under contract with the North Jutland club during the past season but subsequently parted ways with the team.[/p][p]According to Anti-Doping Denmark, Farmer explained that two days prior to the doping test, he had been at a bar in Aalborg with some teammates.[/p][p]He allegedly consumed two or three drinks paid for by others at the bar. Earlier that evening, he had drunk a couple of beers.[/p][p]The American fell ill and vomited before two of his teammates walked him home later that night.[/p][p][b]Tyler Farmer felt fine again the next day but suspected that someone might have spiked his drinks. Nevertheless, he chose not to inform Anti-Doping Denmark about the incident when he was tested shortly before New Year's.[/b][/p][p]The B-sample subsequently confirmed the initial result, and last week, Anti-Doping Denmark reached its final decision.[/p][p]The decision states that the anti-doping agency accepts Farmer's explanation that he did not ingest the substance intentionally or as a performance-enhancing aid.[/p][p]Consequently, the penalty is two years rather than the four-year ban that a positive doping test typically entails.[/p][p][b]The ban takes effect on 10 August of this year. According to the ruling, Farmer has accepted the verdict and its consequences.[/b][/p][p]The 28-year-old Farmer played 46 games for the Aalborg Pirates. In those games, he recorded five goals and 25 assists.[/p][p]Aalborg has not yet commented on the verdict.[/p]