Valerenga player cleared of doping violation after ingesting rubber from artificial pitch

A women’s player for Norwegian club Valerenga has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an anti-doping investigation after she accidentally ingested a banned substance contained in rubber crumb from an artificial pitch.

Rubber crumb, the name given to shredded and recycled rubber (often from tyres), is found under 3G and 4G synthetic football pitches, which are widespread across Europe at grassroots and professional level.

The incident occurred on April 22 when Valerenga played LSK Kvinner at the LSK-Hallen indoor arena in Lillestrom, near Norway’s capital Oslo.

Standard drug tests after the match found that eight players involved in the fixture had tested positive for 1,3-dimethylbutylamine (DMBA), with one Valerenga player exceeding the threshold set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

An investigation was subsequently launched by both clubs and Norway Anti-Doping (ADNO) but the initial results were unclear. However, it was eventually established that the rubber crumb contained the banned stimulant. It can appear when the tyre granulate is broken down.

In a statement regarding the incident, ADNO said: “In connection with a top-league match at LSK-Hallen between Lillestrom and Valerenga in April, traces of the stimulant DMBA were found in eight doping samples. One of the samples exceeded the threshold for what, according to WADA standards, is reported as a positive test.

“After a thorough investigation by ADNO, the case was presented to ADNO’s independent prosecution committee. They have now reached their decision, which means the athlete will not be suspended. It is also clear that neither WADA nor any other body with the right to appeal will exercise that option.”

WADA told The Athletic: “Based on the findings of ADNO’s investigation, and additional information gathered by WADA, as well as discussions with external experts, WADA has every reason for now to believe that such a DMBA situation is limited to certain artificial turf fields in Norway.”

The player, who was allowed to continue her playing career while the investigation was ongoing, was cleared and WADA chose not to appeal against the ruling. She has opted to remain anonymous.

“I am so lucky that I have a great group of very supporting people around me,” she said in quotes provided to The Athletic via the club. “My club handled the situation professionally and helped me a lot. My family was unbelievable and stood by my side through the whole process.

“I sincerely hope that players will be better protected in the future. You have to believe in the process and that it is fair, just and for the good of sports.

“The rules as they are today can lead to an innocent athlete being suspended for years.

“The process – and the outcome – feel somewhat arbitrary: If ADNO had not been able to identify the granulate in LSK-Hallen as the source my situation would have been much more difficult. When you are extremely careful, follow all the rules, and still end up being drawn into a case like this, it shows how vulnerable you are as an athlete.”

In an interview with The Athletic, Valerenga CEO Harriet Rudd said the player had been supported by the club throughout the process.

“It’s been a period which has been difficult, but at the same time, I feel that the player group has been very professional, and managed to keep a focus on their performance, and also supporting one another,” Rudd said.

“When we found the source, that was a great relief and now that we are able to close the book on the whole case, it’s also very good and especially of course for the athlete.”

Rudd added that the club’s players are very used to playing on artificial pitches and said that the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has recommended that indoor competitive games be moved outside to reduce the risk of a similar situation. The NFF has been contacted by The Athletic for comment.

WADA’s anti-doping code states that a lack of intent will not always prevent a breach of the rules. Article 2.1 states that it is the athlete’s “personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body” and adds that: “It is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping violation.”

Rudd said that she would like to see players be given more “robust” rights to due process in anti-doping regulations.

“We understand why you have strict liability because it’s very important, and I think all athletes think that it’s very important to keep the games or competitions safe and doping-free,” she said. “But at the same time, it is very important that the anti-doping regulations and the processes make sure that the athletes have their rights to a due process.

“I think at least you need to have a discussion: how does it affect the due process for the athletes when you risk having your career ended by something that you really cannot control in any way?

“The environmental factors now, they have to be part of the whole perspective and process around anti-doping, and you have to also make sure that the players in that context, they feel that their rights are protected.”

The Athletic has asked WADA if it plans to review the ‘strict liability’ principle in light of the case.

The European Union (EU) will officially ban the sale of rubber crumb and any polymeric infill from October 2031.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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