In Norway, according to the law, children between the ages of 15 and 18 may not be tested for doping, which is against the regulations of the international doping organization Wada. If a change in the law does not take place, Norway risks being excluded from all international sports.
A change in the law is supported by Antidoping Norway and the Norwegian Sports Confederation (Nif) and now they also get the support of the children’s ombudsman.
“Responsible for their own choices”
– We must remember that children are mature enough to be punished when they are 15 years old, so there is a lot to say that they are mature enough to be able to decide for themselves whether they should be tested for doping, says Bejer Engh.
She tells NRK that she has asked the Ministry of Children and Families several times to review the regulations, something that has not yet been done.
— In this regard, children should be allowed to decide for themselves. They can both start and stop their sport of their own choice, then I think they should be able to be responsible for making their own choices, and then adhere to the rules that the sport requires.
“We will look into this again”
The Minister for Children and Families, Kjersti Toppe, also shares that picture with the Children’s Ombudsman. She writes in an email to NRK that it is also supported by the fact that children are of legal age according to health legislation when they turn 16.
When asked if she wants to create a new regulation on doping testing of children between the ages of 15 and 18, she replies:
“When it comes to rules for doping testing, it is the Ministry of Culture that has the overall responsibility. When it comes to children’s self-determination in general, the ministry is following up on what the Children’s Law Committee looked at. I will take the initiative for us to investigate this again”.