Nichushkin must respond to Russian doping allegation

The Russian Hockey Federation on Monday said Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin must respond to the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) by Nov. 16 about a doping allegation dating from a 2013 sample, The Associated Press reported.

Nichushkin, who is a candidate to play for what will be known as the Russian Olympic Committee at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, participated in an optional Avalanche practice on Monday but he remains on injured reserve. Per team policy, he is not available to speak to the media.

Avs coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Nichushkin is in good standing with his NHL career. Olympic hockey is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

According to the AP, Russian Hockey Federation executive director Dmitry Kurbatov said WADA had raised questions about a sample from Nichushkin in 2013, the year before he represented his country at the 2014 Olympics in Pyeongchang. At that time, Nichushkin was under contract with the Dallas Stars.

“His sample from 2013 was being stored at the (shuttered Russian anti-doping) laboratory. During the process of reanalyzing results in January and February 2019, a banned substance was found and this case was initiated. There are no decisions yet and nothing has been cleared up,” Kurbatov said in comments reported by the Tass state news agency.

WADA has previously accused Russia of doping and cover-ups from its lab.

Nichushkin, 26, suffered a wrist injury in the season opener on Oct. 13 and has missed the last nine games. Bednar said he could return on Thursday as the Avs (4-5-1) host the Vancouver Canucks.

Top-pair defenseman Cale Makar, who has missed two games with an upper-body injury, will also likely return against the Canucks, Bednar said. Colorado could have its top-six forwards and top-six defensemen in the lineup for the first time this season. … The Avs reassigned rookie forward Sampo Ranta to the AHL’S Colorado Eagles. Ranta, 21, is pointless and minus-4 in 10 games with the big club. … The Avs, who went 0-1-1 in a home-and-away set with the Columbus Blue Jackets, will practice on Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for just their third game in 12 days.

Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers