– The responsibility in this matter rests entirely with Norwegian Antidoping. It is they who are responsible for sitting in the driver’s seat to do what they are supposed to do, but are hindered by this law that we challenge together, Kjøll told NTB at an open meeting with the press on Thursday.

This lack of control in athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 could have major consequences for Norwegian sport. In the worst case, Norway may be refused participation in an international championship and lose the right to become an organizer.

NRK has run the case and revealed that the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) has been aware of the matter for several years.

– We stand strong together to make it happen. It’s been in all the meetings. I am sure that we will find a good solution for this, said Kjøll.

Norwegian Antidoping General Manager Anders Solheim told NTB that his focus was on solving the problem.

– I feel that there is a shared responsibility to find a good solution. This is not a problem we can solve on our own. I feel that all parties will contribute and have stated so.

– How urgent?

– Ideally it should be finished yesterday. Because we have underage athletes participating in regional, national and international sports competitions every day, Solheim replied.

excuse me

It is a strange interpretation of Norwegian law that has stopped Norwegian Antidoping from testing minors without parental consent. More than three years have passed since the sport asked for clarification in a letter to the Ministry of Culture.

Kjøll has admitted that the union only learned of the consequences of the case in June this year.

Norwegian anti-doping fears that by 2023 they will be branded as an organization that is not in line with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations.

– I’m sorry that it took so long. That was on the agenda for years. That it has to get this focus and go this far so we can change something, one can only regret, said Kjøll.

Damaging reputation

Swedish Sports Confederation General Secretary Nils Einar Aas added that they would “look at all possibilities to find a solution to this”.

– The most important thing now is that the Minister of Culture states that he understands that we have to act and make this easier. There will be meetings and dialogues in the near future, he said.

Norway’s anti-doping situation has also been discussed abroad. Aas admits that puts Norwegian sport in a bad light.

– This case has the potential to damage Norway’s anti-doping work, but also our international reputation as a leading anti-doping country. That’s why we want to bring about change.