Columbus player admits to failing drug test during Olympic test

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The new NHL now has a black eye from steroids.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Bryan Berard admitted Friday he failed a drug test on Nov. 12. The sample was collected after his name was submitted by USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport, as a potential Olympic participant.

He did not make the U.S. team, but the positive test resulted in a two-year suspension from international competition. It doesn't affect his NHL status.

Berard, 28, apologized to the Blue Jackets organization and its fans and then said he was unaware of anyone else in the league who was taking steroids.

"All I can speak to is what I did," he said. "It's a mistake. I don't know any other players that are using it or anything."

Berard is in his ninth year in the NHL. He said he took the banned steroid in a supplement while trying to get ready for the season.

"No question, I'm embarrassed about it," Berard said. "There's nothing I can do about it now, other than accepting what I've done. We'll learn from it, it was a mistake and it won't happen again."

Berard took the ice for the Blue Jackets in their 4-3 shootout victory against St. Louis on Frida, and received a customary greeting -- no boos, a smattering of applause.

For the Blues, it was their ninth straight loss.

"It just kind of sums up our season, the way it's been going," St. Louis coach Mike Kitchen said.