Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, drew major headlines across the country last week when he made the remarks during an interview with the London Free Press.
Although many players, league and players' union officials, team general managers and media pundits scoffed at Pound's statements in the ensuing days, Bettman remained silent.
That is, until now.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has challenged WADA chairman Dick Pound to back up his statements about drug use by hockey players. (CP Photo)
"We've sent a letter to Mr. Pound demanding to know on what he based his inflammatory statements," Bettman told the Toronto Sun on Saturday.
"Everything he says is anecdotal. We deserve specifics, not hearsay and innuendoes.
"Dick Pound insulted our players with his accusations. It wasn't fair, appropriate or right."
Bettman said he is waiting to hear back from him before taking further action.
Pound is currently attending an anti-doping conference in Sweden.
"This is classic," Pound told the Toronto Sun over the phone.
"The NHL refuses to allow its players to be tested, but I have conclusive information from club doctors, coaches, trainers and some players. I don't want to say more right now."
During Saturday's edition of Coach's Corner, Don Cherry invited Pound to appear with him on Hockey Night in Canada and defend his statements.
Under the terms of the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, players are subject to a minimum of two drug tests a year without warning. A first-time offender would receive a 20-game suspension. A 60-game suspension would be given to a repeat offender, with a permanent ban for a third offence.
Pound thinks those sanctions do not go far enough.
"The NHL has reached a deal with their players that looks as though they found an early copy of the baseball policy on the floor somewhere," Pound said last week.
Major League Baseball introduced a new drug policy this past January that mandated a first-time offender be suspended for 10 days.
With U.S. Congress threatening legislation, baseball recently made the penalties stiffer: a 50-game ban for a first offence, 100 games for a second, eventually leading to an outright ban.
As chairman of the Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency, Pound is one of the most powerful men in the sports world.
Often outspoken and unapologetic about his views on drug cheats, Pound has been on a personal crusade for years to eradicate drug use by athletes by getting as many sports, international bodies and governments to adopt the World Anti-Doping Code.
Under the WADA Code, international amateur athletes are subject to a two-year ban for their first positive drug test.
In a 2003 interview with CBC Sports Online, Pound talked about the difficulties he was having trying to get Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and NHL to conform to WADA's global strategy on drug testing.
"The problem is they don't want to admit there's a problem, so I don't see it happening. They're in denial and fans are somewhat apathetic about it all, so there's no incentive for them to get tougher on drugs," Pound said.
"It seems to me that it only becomes a big deal when someone tests positive at the Olympics and is stripped of a medal. Then it becomes a big deal. For pro sports, I just think most fans don't care about how the athletes get there in the first place and just want to see them on the field."
