The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Alexander Radulov while they investigate the details of his transfer to the newly formed Russian KHL.
As well, the transfer of five other players - Nikita Filatov, Thomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Viktor Tikhonov - is also being investigated by the governing body.
"Until this investigation has come to its final conclusion and the IIHF has rendered its decisions, all concerned players will be suspended from international transfers and competitions," read a statement from the IIHF on Friday.
"We hope that this can be resolved amicably and in a timely manner," said IIHF President Rene Fasel. "It is unfortunate that we are already facing such difficulties after the progress that was made last week. I am hoping that all sides can come to a solution."
The suspensions come just one week after the IIHF, the NHL and its Players' Association agreed to respect the contracts of hockey players in their respective leagues.
The KHL responded to the suspension by releasing a statement to the media to clarify their position stating that they accept the idea of an investigation, however they remain at odds about the proposal to suspend the signed contracts of the players mentioned:
"We do not accept the idea of suspending the contracts because this has not been agreed on by KHL and NHL," said KHL President Alexander Medvedev in a statement.
"The mentioned players should not be made 'scapegoats' due to the fact that the Memorandum of Agreement has not been signed between the KHL and the NHL. In the absence of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the KHL and the NHL, it is important to remember that the player is under contract with the individual clubs and the KHL can only enforce any such agreements with the NHL, once the Memorandum has been signed by all parties."
Earlier this month, Radulov signed a contract to play for Ufa in the new Russian Superleague. However, he is still under contract with the Nashville Predators of the NHL. Radulov said at the time he informed the Predators that he wanted to return to play in Russia and that because there is no active transfer agreement between the leagues, he did not believe he could be forced to return to play for Nashville.
Filatov, the sixth player taken overall in last month's NHL Entry Draft, recently signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, Alexander Medvedev, president of Russia's Continental Hockey League, claims the player's rights still belong to CSKA Moscow.
Krog, the AHL playoff MVP, was signed by the Vancouver Canucks after he reportedly agreed to a lucrative deal to play in Russia.
