Wild signee proclaims his innocence

So desperate to prove his innocence and salvage his reputation, Sean Hill has taken a lie detector test and given blood at an independent lab.

The veteran NHL defenseman claims he has passed both tests and has no idea how boldenone, an anabolic steroid mostly used for treatment of horses, was found in his system following a Feb. 16 drug test.

Friday, minutes after signing a one-year contract with the Wild, the 37-year-old Duluth native talked for the first time about becoming the first player to test positive for a banned substance in the NHL's performance- enhancing drug program.

"I had no idea what it even was when they called me," said Hill, who has 19 games remaining on the 20-game suspension he received before the New York Islanders' first-round playoff elimination game April 20. "I immediately asked to be retested, but they said they don't do that. ... They said, 'If we have the science, there's not much you can do.' "

In response, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "We're confident in the program and believe that the procedures employed under the program produce just results."

The NHL/NHLPA-negotiated drug program doesn't allow for retesting to eliminate the chance of a false positive, so after the season, Hill took another test with an independent lab in New York. He said there wasn't a trace of the steroid in his system. He also took a polygraph test with James Murphy, who served as the FBI's chief of polygraph from 1989 to '98.

"I passed that with the most reputable guy, so I felt vindicated, although that's the wrong word because I knew the truth the whole time," Hill said. "I know what I've done and I know I didn't do that. It's frustrating. You feel like you let your team down, but it's something I just can't explain.

"I look back at what I was taking, and they were just the protein shakes available to us in the locker room that other guys were taking, too."

Years ago, Hill was diagnosed with a low testosterone level. He has received a therapeutic-use exemption from the NHL to take a testosterone booster, "so why would I even take a chance knowing how close they watch me? It makes no sense."There doesn't go a day where I don't think about this," Hill continued. "And I don't have any closure on it. Somehow it either got into my system or it was a mistake or something got crossed up in the lab."

Hill will earn $475,000 in salary and can make up to $850,000 in games played, ice time and team playoff bonuses. His salary during the 19-game suspension will be donated to the NHL Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. He can practice during his suspension but can't play in the preseason.

As of now, Hill must be on the Wild's 23-man roster during his suspension, although the team plans to petition that. All players are subject to three "no-notice" drug tests per season. Assistant General Manager Tom Lynn said Hill is subject to unlimited random tests. If Hill tests positive again, he faces a 60-game suspension.

"Our belief after talking to [Hill] and doing our due diligence is he didn't know how it got into his system," Wild GM Doug Risebrough said. "This stuff can be unknowingly ingested. He wanted a second chance, and we'd like to give him a second chance.

"I've always admired Sean as a competitor. He's not a big guy, but he battles bigger and he's got an edge to him and he's not a comfortable guy to play against. We need that on the blue line. Also, it gives me the flexibility to maybe do something else in terms of moving a defenseman."

Hill, a former University of Wisconsin standout, is a rugged, hard-hitting defender with a cannon of a shot from the point. He averaged 22 minutes, 32 seconds a game last season and was third in the NHL with 252 hits and sixth with 202 blocked shots.

To put that in perspective, the Wild's leader in hits last season was Stephane Veilleux with 89. The blocked shots leader was Nick Schultz with 141.

"I kick and scratch and claw to keep [opponents' skilled players] off the scoreboard," said Hill, who has 60 goals, 289 points and 976 penalty minutes in 841 games.

The first six weeks of next season will be excruciating for Hill, especially the extra work he will have to put in with Wild assistants Mario Tremblay and Mike Ramsey.

"But I'll turn it into a positive," Hill said. "I'll learn a lot about my teammates, learn a lot about the style of game Jacques [Lemaire] has us play. It'll be good to watch from above.

"I'm sure it'll be tough to get through, but every day will be a day closer."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com