A Norwegian soccer player has been cleared of a doping violation after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
The substance was later traced to rubber crumb from an artificial pitch.
Here’s what to know.
What happened
On 22 April, Norwegian league teams Vålerenga and LSK Kvinner played a match at an indoor arena near Oslo.
After the match, routine drug tests revealed traces of ‘DMBA’, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in eight players’ samples.
One Vålerenga player’s result exceeded the threshold for what is reported as a positive test according to WADA standards, 50 nanograms per millilitre.
The investigation
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Norway’s anti-doping body (ADNO) launched a seven-month inquiry, which eventually confirmed the source of the positive result was rubber granules used under synthetic turf.
ADNO ruled the player was not at fault and WADA chose not to appeal.
The player, who has chosen to remain anonymous, told media she felt “lucky” to have strong support from her club and family, but warned the case showed how vulnerable athletes are to environmental exposure. She also called for better protection of athletes, saying: “The rules as they are today can lead to an innocent athlete being suspended for years.”
Response
Vålerenga CEO Harriet Rudd told The New York Times the outcome was a relief and said the squad had remained professional throughout the process. She added that the Norwegian Football Federation has recommended moving indoor competitive games outdoors to reduce risk.
The case has sparked calls for reform anti-doping rules, which hold athletes responsible regardless of intent.
The European Union has already announced a ban on rubber crumb from 2031.
