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It is alleged that Norwegian Olympic officials have been aware of their failure to adhere to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code in regard to drug testing athletes between the ages of 15 and 18. Apparently, they knowingly avoided testing for three years.
The Norwegian Olympic Committee (NIF) may come under some disciplinary action after it has emerged that Norway followed its own rules where no underage athletes could be drug-tested without first acquiring permission from their parents.
Russia: – No exceptions for Norway
— Anti-Doping Database (@Dopinglist) August 23, 2022
Norwegian regulations says that athletes between 15 and 18 years old must have consent from parents when it comes to doping testing.
(In Norwegian, use translation service of choice)https://t.co/3YhUJAFAdX
However, WADA guidelines state that all athletes must be subject to drug tests in order to maintain the integrity of the WADA code.
It is alleged that despite knowing that gaining general parental permission was possible (rather than seeking permission each time) — NIF and the Norwegian Anti-Doping Agency (ADNO) did not follow through on this either.
Not a single underage athlete was tested for three years. This is against the WADA code and can result in penalties up to and including a total national ban not unlike the one that Russia has been under since 2015.
According to various publications, Anders Solheim, the CEO of Norway’s anti-doping authority previously added that it was important to implement measures that ensured that underage doping didn’t have an opportunity to fester in Norwegian sport.
There can’t be young people participating in competitions who can drug themselves as much as they want
We don’t want a sport where you can drug yourself until you are 18 – without taking a test. It provides an opportunity to cheat and gain an unfair advantage.
Norway has enjoyed a resurgence in the sport of Athletics over the past few years. For example, 21-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen has won multiple medals in international competition including Olympic gold in the 1500m distance, World Champsionships gold in the 5000m and silver in the 1500m, four gold medals from the European Championships.He is an eight-time national champion and eight-time Diamond League champion.
Ingebrigtsen holds eight national records or national bests as well as four European records. He holds national U20 and U18 records. His career performances run parallel to Norway’s non-compliance since 2019.
Twenty-six-year-old Karsten Warholm holds the world record in the 400m hurdles event at 45.94 seconds. He is a two-time World champion and the defending Olympic champion.
