Truszkowski (pictured top) returned an adverse analytical finding for Carboxy-THC in a urine sample given on November 17 at last year's IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B Pool in Novi Sad, Serbia following his team's unsuccessful match with Germany in the bronze medal playoff, where he was captain.

The substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2012 Prohibited List under the category S8. Cannabinoids and is considered a "specified substance", therefore it is prohibited under the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

During a hearing, Truszkowski, who was also fined €750 (£647/$1030), claimed he did not know cannabis was a banned substance and admitted to smoking the drug in an effort to relieve phantom pain caused by his impairment and not to enhance his performance.

The IPC panel who heard his case was satisfied that he did not take the substance to enhance his performance and, as such, the regular two-year suspension was halved to one year starting from December 13 2012 – the date Truszkowski replied to the IPC accepting the anti-doping rule violation.

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