Doping allegations and the Olympics

[Tricia]

A press release states that Therese Johaug, a champion cross country skier from Norway is barred from competing until April 2018, which will put her out of the Olympics.
It amazes me that something as small as a lip balm can impact results and stop someone from competing.
The section in Bold below strikes me as odd. Why a team doctor approved something that would get her banned is beyond me.

GENEVA (AP) — The 2018 Winter Olympics will be without a potential star whose ban has been extended in a doping case involving a steroid in lip balm.

A former Olympic champion, World Cup winner and seven-time world champion in cross-country skiing, Therese Johaug is now barred from racing until mid-April.

The Pyeongchang Games are staged in South Korea in February.

The 29-year-old star of Norway’s powerhouse squad tested positive for an anabolic agent listed in the contents of a treatment for sunburn, and a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel said on Tuesday an 18-month ban was “appropriate.”“I am heart-broken,” a tearful Johaug said at a news conference at her training base in Italy. “I think it is unfair, I feel I was unfairly treated.”


The case highlighted a risk of hometown decisions when national bodies judge cases involving local stars, and why the International Olympic Committee wants Switzerland-based CAS to handle all such doping cases and avoid conflicts of interest.

Johaug was banned for just 13 months by a Norwegian sports tribunal which noted the balm was approved by a team doctor.

A potential return to racing in November was challenged by the International Ski Federation (FIS). It a used a right of appeal to sport’s highest court for a ban closer to the two-year maximum in cases of “non-significant fault.”

Switzerland-based FIS said it was “satisfied that an independent body had the opportunity to review all of the facts of this case and render an impartial verdict.”

Johaug will now miss the entire Olympic season after being denied the chance to defend the overall World Cup title she won in 2016. She also won the season-long title in 2014, weeks after winning silver and bronze medals from distance races at the Sochi Olympics.

Norway won five of the 12 golds in cross-country skiing at Sochi, included a medal sweep in the women’s 30-kilometer race. Johaug got her silver at the official closing ceremony before teammate Marit Bjoergen’s gold made her the most decorated female Winter Olympian in history.

With Bjoergen skipping the 2016 season, Johaug regained her World Cup title and was training to defend it at a high-altitude camp in Italy one year ago. There, she tested positive for clostebol.

“I feel I did everything right,” Johaug said on Tuesday. “I went to an expert who gave me this ointment and I asked him if the cream was on a doping list. The answer I got was no.”

The three CAS judges did not agree she was blameless.

“The panel noted that Ms. Johaug failed to conduct a basic check of the packaging, which not only listed a prohibited substance as an ingredient but also included (a) clear doping cautionary warning,” the court said in a statement, noting her case was “inconsistent with her otherwise clean anti-doping record.”

FIS previously cited Johaug’s failure “to read the doping warning label printed in red on the package,” and using a medication she did not recognize that was bought away from her home country.

Johaug has raced at the top international level since 2007, gaining 42 individual World Cup wins and Olympic gold in the 4x5-kilometer relay at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Her two medals in Sochi helped Norway place second in the overall medals table behind the host nation. Norway could top the standings after the IOC finishes prosecuting cases of suspected systematic doping of the Russian team.

___

Associated Press Writer Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

 

[albertanskigirl]

Wow - that seems so extreme. I have a phd student right now who's doing research on doping in Olympic-level speedskating, and some of her findings are fascinating. Indeed, it's a very thin line between performance enhancement and doping - and some of the athletes themselves often point out that so much time and energy is taken to calibrate perfectly everything their bodies intake - from food to creams, to medicine, to vitamins to supplements. And often this micromanagement of an athlete's biology is in fact in someone else's hands. Athletes from lower-income countries often argue that Western athletes aren't often found guilty of doping, but they have access to so much funds, expertise (nutriotional and chemical) that what they are doing - all the micromanagement of food intake, supplements, vitamins - is 'almost like doping' but without the banned substances. I agree that doping should be banned from athletic events - but it also seems like this is a little out of hand.

 

[scott43]

No comment.

 

[Started at 53]

I believe it is the athletes responsibility to stay clean. I give zero credibility to placing blame on the "team" for not keeping them clean.

Take responsibility for your actions. Sadly, minor infractions like this (while still an infraction) are brought to light because of all of those WILLING to cheat.

WADA publishes a list of banned substances. It's pretty easy, have the list in a PDF on your phone, just check it against ingredients of a product you are contemplating using.

Just STOP the poor me crap!

 

[Muleski]

The interesting one is that the Norwegian Ski Federation banned her for 13 months. She missed all of last season. FIS appealed that, and was pushing for four years....which in effect would have ended her career.

The CAS agreed on 18 months, which effectively takes her out of this year's season and this year's Olympic Games. I presume she'll keep skiing.

There is always a touch of sports politics that can come into play as well. She was caught, she had a banned substance allegedly in the lip balm, and she tested positive.

The Norwegian Nordic Team has a pretty checkered history in this regard. They also have the dominant team in the sport. So, IMO, no chance of them being cut any slack by any of the governing bodies, which have reps from competing countries. It's not four years, it's not a lifetime, but it's still two seasons and one Olympics. Had to be a lot of "discussion."

I agree with @Started at 53's comments. It's not hard for an athlete to keep track of this stuff. Of course their coaches, trainers, etc. can as well. No excuse, IMO, if those are going to be the rules.

Like cycling, my understanding is that XC performance and particularly recovery can be greatly impacted by PED's.

If you have ever seen her, I doubt if she's adding lean muscle mass. She is tiny. Absolutely beautiful, but tiny. Think she would have had quite a bit of air time in s Korea. As we know, that whole show will not be so much about the actual events.

Others on here, like @Primoz, have a lot more experience in the high level WC XC skiing.

Very limited insight here. Have a few family friends still competing, and knew that this woman is a force.

She was caught. Should have known better, IMO. Curious about the actual substance.

 

[mdf]

The cynical suspicion would be that the lip balm was an attempted cover for some other steroid.

 

[Muleski]

The cynical suspicion would be that the lip balm was an attempted cover for some other steroid.

That would be my guess, and that's why she's out for two seasons and an Olympic cycle. Have to assume that these people are not fools. {I almost said dopes...haha}.

 

[mikel]

I really want to comment but I'm afraid I will get on my soap box and I don't want to turn this into something similar to another doping forum. I am actually more sympathetic to Therese's predicament. I am also a bit cynical but as it relates to the sports politics, WADA, and other groups. I agree with @ Muleski comments and ultimately anyone can just say she should know better and know what's on the list. WHY would the team doctor, who should also know exactly what is on the list, approve it?

I will stop here.

 

[graham418]

“The panel noted that Ms. Johaug failed to conduct a basic check of the packaging, which not only listed a prohibited substance as an ingredient but also included (a) clear doping cautionary warning,” the court said in a statement, noting her case was “inconsistent with her otherwise clean anti-doping record.”

FIS previously cited Johaug’s failure “to read the doping warning label printed in red on the package,” and using a medication she did not recognize that was bought away from her home country

So, the package lists a prohibited substance in the ingredients, AND a doping warning label in RED, and she still uses it and tries to place the blame elsewhere.
Hmmmm....

 

[Tricia]

So, the package lists a prohibited substance in the ingredients, AND a doping warning label in RED, and she still uses it and tries to place the blame elsewhere.
Hmmmm....

Right???
When you're competing at that level, and you have to ask, then you already know something is questionable.
Heck, I was prescribed some sort of steroid for allergies a few years ago. I hated how they made me feel, so I didn't finish the course of the prescription.
When the doctor prescribed them to me again, I said, "no thanks, I'll figure out another way"

There aren't other ways to take care of sun burned lips?
An alternative that doesn't have a warning label on it??

The cynical suspicion would be that the lip balm was an attempted cover for some other steroid.

I hadn't thought of that, initially, but you're probably on to something.

 

[Tricia]

I really want to comment but I'm afraid I will get on my soap box and I don't want to turn this into something similar to another doping forum. I am actually more sympathetic to Therese's predicament. I am also a bit cynical but as it relates to the sports politics, WADA, and other groups. I agree with @ Muleski comments and ultimately anyone can just say she should know better and know what's on the list. WHY would the team doctor, who should also know exactly what is on the list, approve it?

I will stop here.

Well, there's that too.

 

[Jed Peters]

That would be my guess, and that's why she's out for two seasons and two Olympic cycles. Have to assume that these people are not fools. {I almost said dopes...haha}.

QUICK! What topical or excuse has the same steroid in it that we can use as a "cover up" for the use?

FYI, nearly all the athletes at the top levels are "supplementing" with something that is either on a banned list or will be soon enough. The human body can't recover fast enough without it.

(Supplements are in quotes because if the substances aren't on the banned list YET they are seen by the athlete as such.)

Also, federation doctors all know what all the athletes are on in these endurance sports, as they speak openly about it. The reason being is they have to make sure the athletes are SAFE and don't die first and foremost. For example, the Swedish federation doctor knows about the norwegian WC athletes and what they are on--so if one has a heart attack, they know how to treat that person for causes and conditions.

 

[Swede]

She was given 18 months. The hardest sentence for steroids is, if I'm correct, four years. So she's convicted as it was a mistake. I saw what her lip looked like when she used the closterbol balm, and ... I can imagine that she just wanted the baddest mf of lip balms available. It looked horrible. Not an expert at all on doping, but according to news over here levels of closterbol was very low (I guess that's why her story was found credible by the international jury). Everyone on the sport news seemed to agree it wasn't anything that could've enhanced her performance, but the rules need to be tough and give the athlete a responsabilty. Otherwise 'real' cheaters would be able to get of the hook, blaiming their coach, doctor etc. Everyone also agreed it was tough, but fair. Except the Norwegians. Surprise.

 

[Started at 53]

As stated above, it is not about muscle mass, it is much more about shortening the recovery period.

An inside person from the world of cycling once told me that the riders are 18-24 months ahead of the testers regarding being caught. Once in a while someone slips up, but the vast majority are doing it.

 

[Swede]

I guess you should be advising WADA.

 

[markojp]

Doping? In aerobic sports? No way....

 

[Muleski]

Before we head there, no need for anybody to be getting "snippy", and let's NOT start getting into this topic and the alpine race world.

It is an arms race, users and docs a few steps ahead of the testers, for the most part.

It is odd that your doc can prescribe you so many meds to aid in recovery, which are clearly banned. Have always thought that the regs for those clearly injured, recovering and competing, might be relaxed. Guess that's a very slippery slope.

@Jed Peters makes a good point about just what the consequences can be for endurance athletes reacting the wrong way.

Makes me think of hearing Bode speaking with a friend and saying that he felt the sport might be a lot more interesting with no banned PED's, no equipment regulations......etc.

Not sure if I agree with that. Think you need a hard line on the PED's.

Have seen Tyler Hamilton speak about his experiences three times. Always essentially the same talk, then a Q&A. Does a nice job. I'm sure they are on YouTube. Worth a look.

 

[Doug Briggs]

Here we go down a slippery slope. (pun intended)

I was just saying to someone the other day that ski racing (and I was mostly contemplating Alpine ski racing) has been immune to the controversy.

A bit of irony, some drug companies sponsor the US Team yet the Team members can't use them as they contain. Case in point:

 

[Jed Peters]

My experience with doping:

--If you're using PED's for recovery, and are a big name that brings in money--acceptable.

--If you're using PED's for performance, and are a big name--may be acceptable IF you aren't stupid about it (and you bring money in).

--if you're using PED's for recovery and are not a big name but just "one among many"--may be acceptable if you aren't stupid about it.

--If you're using PED's for performance and you're not a big name--may be acceptable if you don't step on toes.

--If you're using PED's for performance and you are not a big name and are stupid about it--not acceptable.

 

[Jed Peters]

Here we go down a slippery slope. (pun intended)

I was just saying to someone the other day that ski racing (and I was mostly contemplating Alpine ski racing) has been immune to the controversy.

A bit of irony, some drug companies sponsor the US Team yet the Team members can't use them as they contain. Case in point:

View attachment 28342

Not as awesome as the fact that Amgen sponsored the Tour of California.