Miro Aaltonen is the Olympic ice hockey champion from 2022.
Joel Sippola,
STT Sports
17.1. 19:39•Updated 17.1. 22:03
Finnish ice hockey player representing the Swiss EHC Kloten Miro Aaltonen has been temporarily banned from competition.
The Swiss premier league club says in its announcementthat the 31-year-old attacker is suspected of neglecting anti-doping rules.
The Swiss Anti-Doping Agency suspects the player of foul play. Kloten was informed about Aaltonen’s dismissal during the day today.
Aaltonen, who turns 32 this summer, was part of the Lions’ Olympic team three years ago in Beijing. At that time, he scored three goals and a total of four power points in six games.
He is going into his third season in Kloten’s shirt. In the Ice Hockey Championship League, Aaltonen has represented Espoo Blues and Oulun Kärppi.
Admits to having used a “recreational substance”
Aaltonen was the first Finnish media to comment on the matter to STT when it became public on Friday evening.
– During the game break before Christmas 2024, I have been in a nightclub and apparently used a substance for entertainment purposes, which does not improve performance, but is prohibited in sports, Aaltonen told STT on Friday evening.
According to Aaltonen, it was a stupid mistake that will not happen again.
– I seek professional help for the situation and face the consequences of my actions. I want to return to practice my profession as soon as I am allowed to. I sincerely apologize for my actions to my loved ones as well as Kloten’s organization, fans and teammates.
The story was updated on January 17, 2025 at 9:50 p.m.: The comments received by STT from Miro Aalto regarding his suspicions were added to the story.