MOSCOW, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – The KHL has imposed a temporary ban on NHL No. 1 draft pick Nail Yakupov, preventing him from playing for lockout team Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk until an investigation into the forward is resolved, the league said Wednesday.

The KHL statement said the 18-year-old starlet, who has already made two appearances for Neftekhimik after his lockout contract was reigstered last Thursday, can not take to the ice again under the International Ice Hockey Federation has given the all-clear.

Contacted by R-Sport, the IIHF could not immediately clarify the nature of the probe into Yakupov, though it may involve objections from his NHL team the Edmonton Oilers over his participation in the Russian-based league.

The return of the starlet forward to Russia was hampered by Edmonton, which intended to send him to Canadian major junior team Sarnia Sting, where he had racked up 170 points in 107 games before being drafted.

The IIHF is supposed to release a statement today which I will add to this post when available.

added 11:02am,