Yesterday

Posted on March 24, 2010

It did surprise me yesterday when I learned that law enforcement officers had showed up unannounced at our training facility in Arlington in relation to the arrest of a Virginia chiropractor. This doctor apparently is linked to the Florida resident who was arrested in May as part of a steroids investigation. We easily and legally could have declined the surprise interview request, but our players have nothing to hide, and we decided to proceed.You can read the statement we posted to our website yesterday. The officers interviewed several people who had seen this doctor for routine chiropractic needs. One of the conflicting and puzzling issues is that the doctor inaccurately claimed to be the Capitals "team chiropractor." This is completely false. We clearly note team physicians in our annual media guide, and this doctor isn't and hasn't been one of them. I do feel bad for the players whose names were leaked to the media. I gather their names were plucked from an appointment book, and as a result they became potential witnesses. The law enforcement interview with each of them was extremely brief, and as soon as officers asked their questions, they quickly realized there was no other connection other than general chiropractic services. Our players and our organization have been open, honest and transparent. Here's a statement from Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner: "Based on the investigation we have done and the information we have, there is no evidence that Dr. Nagel ever supplied (or even offered to supply) performance enhancing drugs to any current or past member of the Washington Capitals." None of the investigations that have taken place at the NHL level or via law enforcement ever has demonstrated a steroid link to a Capitals player, but we realize our name generates interest, page views and headlines. Hopefully yesterday's surprise questioning has put an end to future rumormongering and the desire to grab headlines.