Olausson Expects to Play With Medical Conditions

Defenseman Fredrik Olausson said he has been found to have two related medical conditions but said he expects to play this season.

Olausson said that his ulcerative colitis--a painful inflammation of the large bowel--is being treated with medication. But his sclerosing cholangitis--an inflammation that causes narrowing of the bile duct--cannot be treated with medicine.

A procedure similar to angioplasty can be used to open the bile duct, but is not a cure.

“It’s not treatable . . . yet,” Olausson said. “It must have been something that happened this year. I have always passed physicals in the past. I passed this one too. It just took a week.”

Olausson, who will turn 32 on Monday, was found to have an enlarged spleen during a physical before training camp. He missed the first week of training camp and was examined by three specialists.

The Ducks signed Olausson, an unrestricted free agent, to a two-year, $2-million contract.