The gloves have come off in the dispute between the National Hockey League and the KHL over the Alexander Radulov case. The NHL and the IIHF and its federations will meet next Tuesday in Berne, Switzerland to discuss resurrecting the Player Transfer Agreement for next season, but the Radulov issue is also sure to be a hot topic.
The NHL says the IIHF has bowed to KHL boss Alexander Medvedev and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly goes as far as suggesting Medvedev and the IIHF are working together.
"There is a real concern that the IIHF as an organization has been co-opted by Medvedev and the KHL. There is no other explanation for their recent behaviour and for refusing to uphold their principles. It raises real questions about the type and nature of the relationship that exists between the leadership of the IIHF and Medvedev."
Multiple e-mails to the IIHF and president Rene Fasel have not been returned.
The NHL says Fasel has a number of options to remedy the Radulov tug-of-war, including suspending the Nashville Predators star from participating in international competition, or disqualifying RADULOV'S KHL team, Ufa, from competing in the Champions League which launches October 8th.
Earlier this month, the Continental Hockey League agreed to binding arbitration with the NHL to determine Radulov's status. However, the Russians will only arbitrate the case in Russia, while the NHL wants it heard anywhere but Russia.
For SportsCentre, I'm Darren Dreger.