Yannic Seidenberg: Comeback after doping lock and dream of DEL!

Yannic Seidenberg: Comeback after doping lock and dream of DEL!

Yannic Seidenberg, the experienced ice hockey player, returned to the ice after a three-year doping lock. On March 15, 2025, in the game of the Kassel Huskies against EHC Freiburg, the 41-year-old celebrated a remarkable comeback. His lock ended on time for the game and enabled him to be part of the team that won 2-1. Seidenberg only had two months of training before his comeback, which makes his performance seem particularly impressive.

The doping lock, which was pronounced in 2022 due to a proven testosterone abuse, was originally set to four years, but later shortened to two years. Seidenberg had announced during the lock to end his career. However, his comeback was made possible by Daniel Kreutzer, the sports director of the Huskies, who had contacted him while skiing.

a comeback with challenges

The first game after the long break was a challenge for Seidenberg. "The first change was difficult, but I could find out very quickly," he said after the game. He emphasized that the DEL2, in which the Huskies play, was a little slower compared to the DEL, which benefits it. Despite the difficulties in the second playoff game towards Freiburg, Seidenberg was optimistic about the strength of the Huskies squad.

His contribution to the team was immediately visible, he delivered a template directly. He also said positively about the performance of his teammates and was delighted with David Wolf's first goal. For the next home game in the North Hesse Arena, which takes place on Sunday at 5 p.m., Seidenberg will receive the support of his family and fans.

The goals for the future

Seidenberg, who had an impressive career with almost 1100 DEL games and 518 scorer points before his lock, has big goals. He strives to climb the Huskies to the highest German ice hockey league, the DEL. Although he wants to decide after the season in the summer whether he wants to continue his career, returning to ice hockey is a big step for him.

The problem of doping in sports is not new and affects many athletes who use performance -enhancing means to gain advantages in competition. This trend among athletes has decreased in recent years, but the fight against doping remains a central challenge in sports. According to statistics, there were a total of 910 doping violations in 2020, 66 percent of which led to sanctions. International sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, are vehemently campaigning against doping.