– In such a serious matter, this is very boring. 55 special associations could make a big effort to change the law. We have lost many weeks trying to get a change in the law, says a clearly dissatisfied Tage Pettersen to news. He is president of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association and supreme elected leader of one of Sport Norway’s 55 special associations. Pettersen is disappointed with the way the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) has handled the ongoing anti-doping crisis, which in the extreme could lead to Norwegian exclusion from international championships. CRITICAL: Ice hockey president Tage Pettersen. Photo: Kenneth Myhre / Norwegian Ice Hockey Association He reacts strongly to two things in particular: – One is that it is through the media that I, as president of one of Norway’s special confederations, find out about this challenge, explains Pettersen and follows up: – The second is that NIF obviously been sitting on this information for a while. The sports board unaware According to what news learns, the sports board was also not informed about the ongoing situation. – This is of such a serious nature that I think we need to use every day to change the law and should have started a broad process earlier. The downside here is that we lose both the opportunity to organize and participate in championships if we don’t get this in place, says the ice hockey president. ALERT: Sports president Berit Kjøll sounded the alarm already in April last year. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB news has been in contact with sports president Berit Kjøll. She has no opportunity to comment on the criticism on Tuesday evening. news wanted to get an answer as to why the various special confederations and the sports board have not been informed about the anti-doping crisis Norway is in. The possible consequences if the authorities, the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) and Anti-Doping Norway (ADNO) do not find a quick solution to the crisis are great, among other things: Olympics and Paralympics without Norwegian participation. No championships on Norwegian soil. The reason for the crisis is a special Norwegian interpretation of the law which means that athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 cannot be tested for doping without their parents’ consent. This has led to the fact that no one under legal age has been tested unannounced in the last two years, and that Antidoping Norway is therefore not fulfilling its obligations according to the international anti-doping code. This is revealed in a letter news has gained access to. – Terribly sad and regrettable Sports President Berit Kjøll and Thorhild Widvey, chairman of Antidoping Norway fear that Norway’s deviation from the international anti-doping code could have major consequences already from the turn of the year 2022/2023. – I think it is both terribly sad and regrettable. Someone must have slept in class when we have ended up in this situation, and now we only have half a year to correct this, says Pettersen. Already on Wednesday last week, news brought up the topic at a press meeting with the national cross-country teams, but neither cross-country manager Espen Bjervig nor national team coach Sjur Ole Svarstad could comment. They simply hadn’t heard of the ongoing anti-doping crisis. UNKNOWN: Handball president Kåre Geir Lio. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB Handball president Kåre Geir Lio and football president Lise Klaveness were also surprised by news’s inquiry: – This is completely new to me, said the former. – This has been an unknown problem for us, commented Klaveness. – There are several of us who have slept in class The day after news’s revelation of the crisis, the Ice Hockey Association decided to send an administrative inquiry to the sports association to get information directly from them. Pettersen, who is also a parliamentary representative for the Conservative Party, is also considering taking the matter to the Storting. – I will do that if necessary. But first and foremost I am interested in hearing what NIF is doing towards the ministry. We will support the processes that have been initiated, warns the ice hockey president. The anti-doping crisis has been announced since news first mentioned the problem in April 2021. At that time, Anti-doping Norway and the Swedish Sports Confederation sounded the alarm in a letter sent to the Ministry of Children and Families, but little has happened since. Now Pettersen admits that he, and his presidential colleagues in Norwegian sports, may also have failed in their follow-up. – Should you have reacted to the expected crisis earlier? – Yes, I probably should. It is important after all. That we satisfy the rules is ADNO and NIF’s responsibility, but it should have been followed up, admits the ice hockey president. – There are probably more of us who have slept in class, but the job could have been done better, concludes Pettersen.
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Hudfletter sports association after news disclosure – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
