Government crackdown on gambling in sports by professional players intensified, and the latest to feel its terror is the National Hockey League.
The NHL announced it is closing its doors on Ottawa Senators' Shane Pinto for 41 games for "activities relating to sports wagering."
The league said only half of the suspension was related to gambling and kept mum on what the other half was for.
Information on how the investigation was conducted and the forward's detailed involvement were not released.
Pinto, 22, decided not to appeal the suspension and immediately apologized to the people who believed in him.
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"I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa and most importantly my family," Pinto said in a statement released by the team.
"I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team."
Pinto's hockey career is hanging because of the suspension as he enters the new season as a free agent, although the Senators insisted that they are ready to welcome him back.
A dishonorable record in the NHL
Pinto became the first modern-era NHL player to get suspended for gambling.
His suspension also breaks the more than 80-year-old record of Billy Taylor, Don Gallinger, and Babe Pratt, who all got lifetime bans for similar offenses.
This makes his suspension the fourth longest in the league's history.
Pinto is also the first player to get suspended since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports wagering five years ago.
A few months ago, at least 10 NFL players were suspended for gambling, with one getting a one-season ban.
Related article: Jameson Williams, Other NFL Players Suspended Over Gambling Policy Violation
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