Chicago Blackhawks star forward and Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane has been removed from the 2016 cover of the widely popular EA Sports video game as the drama of an ongoing sexual abuse investigation targeting him continues to play out.

The Chicago Tribune reports the company is confirming that 26-year-old Kane will no longer appear alongside teammate Jonathan Toews on the cover of NHL 16 and EA has canceled all of his appearances related to the game's Sept. 15 launch.

"In light of the ongoing investigation involving Patrick Kane, he will no longer be the spokesperson for the launch of EA Sports NHL 16," the company said in a statement. "He will not appear on the EA Sports NHL 16 cover nor participate in other EA Sports NHL 16 promotional activities."

Toews now will appear on the cover alone, with the third Stanley Cup trophy the Blackhawks have won over the last six seasons, according to company officials.

Earlier this month, a woman in Kane's hometown of Buffalo charged the NHL star sexually assaulted her at his offseason home after she and a friend escorted him back to his mansion for a private party. Reports are Kane met both of the women during a late night of partying at a downtown bar and when the alleged victim was examined by authorities she had bite and scratch marks on her body.

No charges have been filed in the case and EA Sports becomes the first company to publicly distance itself from Kane. As one of the league's most exciting and popular players, Kane has also netted endorsement deals with the likes of McDonald's, Chevrolet, Gatorade and Bauer hockey equipment.

Meanwhile, the Hawks and the NHL have acknowledged an investigation is ongoing, but neither party has made any further comment outside of team chairman Rocky Wirtz expressing that he is "disappointed but hopeful" about the situation.

Hamburg police Chief Gregory Wickett has said authorities are now awaiting the results of forensic testing that experts indicate could take several weeks to process.