Finnish sports ethics center Suek announced on Friday that a fitness athlete Abdulnasser Bnaeean has received a three-year sporting ban. The sample given by Bnaeean in June contained an anabolic-androgenic steroid, which is a banned substance in sports.
This year, three fitness athletes have been suspended. In recent years, there have been a striking number of doping violations in fitness sports.
I love sports on the prohibited list there are 18 athletes, of which 12 are fitness athletes, i.e. two thirds. No other sport has more athletes suspended.
Suek’s medical specialist Pekka Rauhalan according to fitness, the number of doping violations is surprisingly clearly different from other sports.
– In recent years, fitness has had about 15 times more doping violations compared to the number of tests than other sports, says Rauhala.
Almost 30 years under the anti-doping agreement
Chairman of the Finnish Fitness Sports Association Kari-Pekka “KP” Ourama admits that the sport is struggling with the doping problem.
He can’t directly say why doping is particularly attractive in fitness sports. Fitness is based on bodybuilding sports, in some of which the use of doping is common. That’s why many people might think that doping is commonplace in fitness as well.
– Maybe it’s the case that we do sports from the side of the association, but some of the competitors who buy a license don’t feel that they are doing something wrong. It can be self-evident for them, if it’s easier to get there, Ourama reflects.
– Then there is still the question of value. For some it means nothing and for others a lot. It’s hard to say what kind of question we should build on that so that the person buying the license really understands what they’re doing.
A fitness athlete’s anti-doping agreement enters into force when the athlete purchases a competition license and is valid until the athlete separately terminates the agreement.
The Finnish Fitness Athletes was founded in 1992, and has had an anti-doping agreement since 1995. According to Ourama, the fitness competitors are on average around 25 years old, meaning most were born while the agreement was in effect.
Starting in 2021, an athlete who has committed a crime has been able to get a one-year reduction in his suspension if he admits to the violation and accepts the punishment.
The last two fitness athletes who have been banned have received a three-year ban instead of a four-year suspension, because they have admitted their wrongdoing.
Anabolic substances number one
Prohibited substances are used in fitness sports to facilitate recovery, muscle growth or to get in as lean a condition as possible. The majority of fitness athletes’ problems are related to anabolic substances.
Suek’s medical expert Pekka Rauhala says that typical anabolic substances found in the tests are anabolic steroids, testosterone and SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators), which are largely similar to anabolic steroids.
– In addition to anabolic substances, some diuretics have been used in the world and in Finland. They remove fluid from the body, making the muscles more visible, says Rauhala.
In fitness, muscles and their visibility are a big part, so the temptation to use forbidden power measures can be great.
– Yes, these clearly speed up muscle growth. Even the name of anabolic substances suggests that they grow and build the body. Muscles react faster and grow as a result of exercise. That’s what we’re looking for.
Education and fines
Suomen fitnessurheilijat ry strives to eradicate doping. Each competitor must have a coach who has successfully completed the association’s coaching training. In addition, every coach and competitor must complete Suek’s Purely Best training.
Since the beginning of the year, an athlete caught doping has had to pay a fine of 5,000 euros to the association.
According to Ourama, Lajiliitto strives to communicate openly about doping violations.
– We do not hide or delay anything. From our side, it’s incredibly clear. If someone complains, let them go. We don’t think it’s okay to be an athlete. If someone is abusing and has signed an anti-doping agreement, there is not a lot of knocking on the nose. That’s a blunt judgment.
Ourama says that Fitnessurheilijat has talked with Suek and that more means for anti-doping work may be forthcoming in the future.
The loss of subsidies is looming
Suomen fitnesseruhili ry is a member organization of the Finnish Olympic Committee and the Finnish Paralympic Committee.
This year, the Finnish Fitness Sports Association was unable to distribute support to sports organizations from the Ministry of Education and Culture due to the doping violations that occurred in 2020–2022.
According to Ourama, it is not a large amount, but being left without support was a symbolic blow to the association, which strives to follow the rules of the sport. Last year, the Finnish Fitness Sports Association received a state grant of 16,000 euros.
– When an umbrella organization like OKM thinks that we haven’t acted like that, it’s a sad thing and really unfortunate.
– We are no longer valued as a sport, because no sports subsidy is given. It’s a bad thing, because for 31 years we’ve been pushing in one direction and some are pushing in another direction. Hundreds of competitors suffer because a few people screw up.
Ourama sees the bright side of the matter in the fact that carts and the news about them clean up the sport. Also, the testing works.
In 2022, Suekin was made for fitness athletes by 207 doping tests in Finland. More were tested only in sports with a larger number of enthusiasts in athletics (298) and ice hockey (217).
The situation of the international umbrella organization spoke volumes
The International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation IFBB has also struggled with the doping issue. Finland is a member of the IFBB, and the IFBB is the only bodybuilding and fitness association that conducts doping tests approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA.
In autumn 2022 Wada announced, that the IFBB’s activities are not in accordance with Wada’s anti-doping regulations. Wada felt that the umbrella organization has neglected to implement an effective testing program and has not allocated sufficient resources to anti-doping programs. The IFBB received an official notice from Wada.
Executive director of Suomen fitnessurheilhu ry Ville Isola told Urheilu at the time that Wada’s decision does not affect operations in Finland.
– I can say that my nest is fine. Suomen fitnessurheilhu ry has been in cooperation with the Finnish Anti-Doping Commission, now Suek, since 1995. If things have been handled poorly in the international sports federation, it will not affect us, Isola commented.