Olympics and Paralympics without Norwegian participation. No championships on Norwegian soil. This is among the possible consequences if the authorities, the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) and Antidoping Norway (ADNO) do not find a quick solution. – We can’t have it like that. The parties must sit down and find a solution. Nobody benefits from this, says handball president Kåre Geir Lio to news. KNEW NOTHING: Handball president Kåre Geir Lio, pictured here with national team star Sander Sagosen. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB There will be a handball WC in Norway in 2023 and 2025, and a handball EC in Norway in 2026 and 2028. Nevertheless, the president was not aware of what is going on behind the scenes. – This is completely new to me. Find a solution, is Lio’s clear message. Nor did football president Lise Klaveness, who has confidence that a solution will be found, know about the situation. The Norwegian Football Association is in the process of applying for the EC in 2025. WANTS THE EC ON HOME FIELD: Football president Lise Klaveness. Photo: VEGARD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN – For Norwegian football and Norwegian sports it will be dramatic if we lose the right to organize international sports events on home ground, she says. Klaveness is supported by cross-country manager Espen Bjervig: – This is a serious situation that must be resolved. I have confidence and believe that this can be resolved, and that we avoid a situation that affects Norwegian athletes and Norwegian events, he writes in an SMS. Fears major consequences The core of the case is an 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 sent by sports president Berit Kjøll and Thorhild Widvey, chairman of Antidoping Norway, this summer. The recipients are Culture and Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen and Children and Family Minister Kjersti Toppe. The senders fear that Norway’s deviation from the international anti-doping code could have major consequences in the fairly near future. – ADNO then expects to become “non-compliant” around the turn of the year 2022/2023, the letter reads. When a country’s anti-doping agency becomes so-called “non-compliant”, meaning that they do not operate in line with the international anti-doping code, it can have significant consequences. Nils Einar Aas, secretary general of the Norwegian Sports Confederation, explains to news that the types of reaction may include fines, that Wada encourages the authorities to withhold money that would otherwise have been allocated to the organization, or that the organization’s representatives cannot hold office in Wada. GENERAL SECRETARY: Nils Einar Aas. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB But the possible consequences can also be significantly more dramatic: – Loss of the right sports organizations have to participate in the Olympics, Paralympics or other championships, or loss of the right to organize competitions themselves, says the general secretary. The fact that Norway can lose the right to organize international competitions is among the first sanctions that can be implemented. The fact that Norwegian athletes can be denied the Olympics and Paralympics is further in the future. – This will naturally be serious for Norwegian sports, he adds. The fear of consequences is also clearly expressed in the letter: – It could have very serious consequences for ADNO and Norwegian sports, including the loss of the opportunity to organize international sports competitions in Norway. It is unclear whether it is “only” a matter of competitions that must be applied for, such as the EC and WC, or whether World Cup races and similar events are also affected. – Can dope as much as they want Anders Solheim, head of Antidoping Norway, is clear that this is a matter that has a high priority. – We think this is a very important matter. It cannot be young people who take part in competitions who can dope themselves as much as they want, he says to news. ANTI-DOPING HEAD: Anders Solheim. Photo: news Solheim also does not ignore the fact that there may be guardians or coaches who push young athletes, and are sloppy with what they give them in terms of medicines and other things. – We do not want a sport where you can dope yourself until you are 18 – without taking a test. It provides an opportunity to cheat and gain an unfair advantage. He also points out that the situation could now have major consequences for Norwegian sport, if Antidoping Norway becomes “non-compliant”. – One of the consequences is that it says that you cannot award international events to Norway, and that means that if you get such a decision from Wada, it does not help if we apply for the EC, WC, Olympics or Paralympics. We will not be allocated such events until we have sorted this out. That is the consequence, says Solheim. Is there a promised answer over the summer The Norwegian Sports Confederation and Antidoping Norway see it as unacceptable that everyone between the ages of 15 and 18 must obtain prior consent from their guardians. They believe that a change in the law is the best solution. – We need a legal authority that gives minors the competence to consent to doping tests, so that consent does not have to be obtained from the parents, says NIF’s general secretary Nils Einar Aas to news. Photo: Screenshot The Ministry of Culture and Equality and the Ministry of Children and Families have sent a letter stating that “they will return to the matter quickly over the summer”. The answer also states the following: – Any legal or regulatory regulation, should it become applicable, will have to be investigated and take some time. The Swedish Sports Confederation feels that the Ministry of Culture and Equality has realized the seriousness. – We understand that the Ministry of Culture and Equality agrees that the anti-doping work in Norway must be in accordance with WADA’s requirements, so NIF has confidence that the authorities will solve this challenge, concludes Aas. news has been in contact with the aforementioned ministries, and has been promised a response from the Ministry of Culture and Equality in due course.
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Norwegian anti-doping crisis – Norway may be refused to host championships – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
