Gudas Apologizes for Homophobic Slur in Olympic Game

Czech forward Radko Gudas issued a public apology after a homophobic slur was heard during the Canada‑Czechia quarterfinal at the Beijing Olympics. He said the words came out of frustration and that he did not intend to offend. Gudas added that he was unaware of the full meaning of the term at the time and expressed regret for the impact on the hockey community.

The incident occurred as Gudas was heading to the penalty box for roughing Canada forward Brandon Hagel in the second period. Canada won 4‑3 to advance to the semifinals, while Gudas also was involved in a hit on Sidney Crosby that left the Canadian star sidelined for the rest of the tournament. No disciplinary action was taken by the IIHF or IOC, though the NHL has fined players for similar remarks in the past.