You want a new organization of doping tests

By Stian Grythaugen

The sports federation announced in a press release that it has asked the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to consider centralizing the responsibility for doping controls.

"If anyone who wants a doping-free sport can financially support such an organization, they can take doping tests all over the world, which will ensure that all athletes, regardless of their sport and nationality, be subject to an identical and competent test regime, "said sports chairman Tvedt.

He also believes that it is necessary to establish clear procedures ensuring that all doping controllers will have "the same level of competence in the future".

Critical conditions

"We need to oblige clean practitioners to do everything in their power to ensure the same conditions of competition and to meet the challenges we face as part of the international anti-doping efforts, we must think again," Tvedt said. .

Doping tests revealed critical conditions both at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and at the South Korean Pyeongchang winter games earlier this year.

Several Norwegian sportsmen have reported episodes of insecurity in Pyeongchang.

– The sampling procedure should be similar from time to time, so that practitioners can recognize it, and anti-doping controllers should have the same competence. All people who perform doping tests must comply with the same regulations, but there is no central body that ensures quality and certifies anti-doping controllers, "said sports chairman Tvedt.

Pointing to ITA

The NIF management indicates that the independent International Testing Agency (ITA) Foundation could be a candidate for the role of joint international testing agency. ITA was created to help protect athletes and sports integrity, and offers an independent, non-profit doping control system for sport.

Antidoping Norway did not wish to send anti-doping controllers to the summer games of Tokyo in 2020. This is explained by the fact that the organization is not satisfied neither with the working conditions of the controllers nor with the way tests are performed.

Antidoping Norway reacts in particular to the fact that the program of the Olympic Games rests largely on the voluntary one. (NTB)