OSLO (Reuters) – Anti-Doping Norway has recommended a 14-month suspension for cross-country skier Therese Johaug following the former Olympic relay champion’s positive test for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid. Johaug, 28, said in her defence that she used a medicine called Trofodermin, after consulting the national team doctor, to treat a sore on her lip and was unaware it contained a banned substance.
“We have recommended a 14-month ban and that will be sent to the disciplinary panel of the Norwegian Olympic Committee. I expect they will have a hearing in February,” Anti-Doping Norway official Niels Kiaer told Reuters on Tuesday. Johaug won the gold medal in the 4x5km relay at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
She also claimed a silver and bronze in Sochi four years later before winning three golds at the 2015 world championships in Sweden.
If the Norwegian Olympic Committee accept the recommendation, Johaug’s 14-month ban will be backdated to Oct. 18 when she was provisionally suspended.
(Reporting by Philip O’Connor in Stockholm; Editing by Tony Jimenez)
Reuters
