The operation was carried out as a preventive measure for a couple of weeks this year to catch people suspected of taking anabolic steroids. The police have visited gyms both civilian and uniformed, something Västerbottens-Kuriren was the first to tell about.
– We see that there is an abuse, but it is an extremely dark figure and it is more common than we think, says mission leader Mattias Henriksson.
FITNESS AND HEALTH
Mat’s body decays after several years of doping: “I’d give a damn about anything”
The doping expert on the most common side effects
Prevents several types of crime
Mattias believes that efforts against doping act as crime prevention on several levels.
– In several cases, there are connections to other types of crime, such as crime in a close relationship. We have spoken to an incredible number of people and in several cases there have been good conversations, he says.
The police also managed to make several seizures.
– We have searched the house in quite a few cases and confiscated roughly 10,000 units, says the task leader.
Welcomed by the gym
One of Umeå’s largest training facilities, Iksu Sport, welcomes the police’s work against doping.
– If people with problems are caught, that is good. It’s great that the police are active, says Oskar Tollknapper, who is in charge of the gym.
Iksu has long worked actively to combat doping in the gym environment.
– We try to be clear in our signals. You can build gyms in different ways to attract different target groups. We don’t buy in the heaviest weights and don’t have a scale in front.
Younger people want to invest in appearance
The gym continues to attract young people. At the turn of the year, SVT told about a gym boom where more and more people want to lift free weights.
– Younger people have a tendency to want to train harder and invest in their appearance. Those who are devoted become more devoted and exercise more. That’s where it’s important for us to keep track, says Oskar Tollknapper.