Maciej Witan has received a four-year ice hockey ban from the Polish Anti-Doping Agency. This comes after the player tested positive for a banned substance prior to a game with KH Torun on Setmpeber 16. Witan and STS Sanok were informed of the failed test in October. Witan has 21 days to appeal once the Polish Anti-Doping Agency has served him with proper notice.
Witan is no doubt one of the best young players in Poland. Last year with Sanok, he set the PHL on fire. The Sanok native recorded ten goals and 12 assists in 40 games. This was tied for the eighth-most points by a player in their draft-eligible plus two seasons since the 2000 season. It was a fantastic year by a great young player who seems to possess all the tools to be a great forward outside of Poland and first liner in the PHL. He recorded two assists in eight games prior to his suspension.
This would be a very unfortunate career-ending ban for such a great young player. His ban would start on October 8, 2021, meaning he would still have over three years left. We are currently looking into whether he would be eligible to play outside of Poland in Europe or in North America. The Polish anti-doping agency is partnered with the World Anti-Doping Agency. The young forward did plea not-quilty. He can still appeal but the agency said they would expect him to lose unless some new evidence is provided.
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