Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, taking him off the ice for the defending Stanley Cup champions’ stretch run and start of the playoffs.

Ekblad in a statement through the NHLPA said the news that he failed a random drug test shocked him, and he apologized for the error.

“Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel,” Ekblad said. “I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”

Ekblad, 29, missed eight of nine games during a stretch in January because of an undisclosed upper-body injury. The Panthers have 18 games left in the regular season, so Ekblad would then miss the first two games of the first round before being eligible to return.

The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, Ekblad has played his entire career with Florida, including a prominent role in the first Cup run in franchise history. He had 33 points in 56 games this season before getting suspended.

Ekblad is the first NHL player to be suspended for violating the league’s PED policy since Nate Schmidt in 2018, when he was unable to play in exhibition games and then missed the first 20 of the regular season. Schmidt was with Vegas at the time, coming off helping the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, and is now teammates with Ekblad on the Panthers.

NBA

Lakers’ James still being evaluated for groin injury

LeBron James is still being evaluated to determine the severity of his groin injury, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Monday.

James strained his left groin in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 111-101 loss at Boston on Saturday. The Lakers have not said how long they expect James to be sidelined.

James said afterward he was not too concerned it would be a long absence, believing it is not as serious as the groin injury he sustained during a Christmas game in 2018 that forced him to miss the next 17 games.

Luka Doncic started Monday despite back soreness, but the Lakers, who had won eight straight before Saturday, were also without center Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion) and forwards Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle soreness) and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy).

NFL

Texans trade LT Tunsil to Commanders

The Washington Commanders acquired standout offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in a trade with the Houston Texans, a person with knowledge of the moves told The Associated Press.

The Commanders are sending 2025 third- and seventh- round picks and 2026 second- and fourth-round picks to Houston for the five-time Pro Bowl selection and a fourth-rounder this year, the person said.

Tunsil, who turns 30 early in training camp, provides a major upgrade at left tackle for quarterback Jayden Daniels in his second season, allowing Brandon Coleman to slide over to guard. Tunsil, who is under contract through 2026, was the most penalized player in the NFL last season, with 17 penalties totaling 95 yards.

“I’m so happy to hear that we have traded for Laremy Tunsil,” Commanders co-owner Magic Johnson posted on social media. “He’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL and will help protect our superstar QB Jayden Daniels. Super job to our GM Adam Peters.”

Eagles accept invite to visit White House

The White House said Monday that it formally extended an invitation to the Eagles to visit after winning Super Bowl LIX.

A team spokesperson confirmed the franchise accepted an invitation to visit the White House and is currently working on scheduling a date and logistics.

The team did not visit the White House following the franchise’s Super Bowl LII win during Trump’s first term, after the invitation was revoked last-minute due to the small group of players who planned to attend.

Eagles trade QB Pickett to Browns for DTR, pick

The Cleveland Browns are acquiring quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Monday.

The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because deals can’t be announced until Wednesday, said the Eagles will receive quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick in next month’s draft.

Soccer

Medics who treated Maradona go on trial

Seven members of the medical team that treated Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona before his death will go on trial for homicide starting Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

The case revolves around allegations that negligence by the health care professionals contributed to the World Cup winner’s death in 2020 at the age of 60, which triggered an outpouring of grief in his native Argentina and across the world.

Maradona suffered a heart attack at his rented house in Tigre, an affluent district north of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, where he had been recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain weeks earlier.

Maradona had struggled with drug addiction, obesity and alcoholism for decades, and reportedly came close to death in 2000 and 2004. But prosecutors concluded that — were it not for the negligence of his doctors — his death could have been avoided.

Seven of the eight medical professionals who have been charged in the case, including Maradona’s brain surgeon, psychiatrist and nurses, are now standing trial for culpable homicide, a crime roughly commensurate with involuntary manslaughter.

They deny wrongdoing but could face up to 25 years in prison.

— From news services