The spearhead of the International Ski Association’s FIS anti -doping work is the so -called Registered Testing Pool of the Association’s so -called Testing Pool.
Thereto belongs to the umbrella More than 400 athletes from a large family of species, just over a quarter are cross -country skiers.
The latest update to the list was made late in 2024.
The list reveals a real surprise: in 2014-2025, among others, three Olympic gold and world championships Iivo Niskanen missing from the control list completely unlike his big sister Kerttu Niskanen.
At least at least the other Finnish top skiers are exhausted Ristomatti Hakola, Joni Mäki, Johanna Matintalo, Arsi Ruuskanen, Niko Anttola and Remi Lindholm.
Only Iivo Niskanen and Natalia Neprojejeva.
The personal medalists of the World Championships in Planica 2023 are missing Skiathlon Bronze Medalist Astrid ore Slind.
In 2021 in Oberstdorf, 30 kilometers of World Cup silver Heidi Weng Nor is it on the list.
The overwhelming majority of the world’s top skiers are involved, including Russians. From the Norwegians to be mentioned Johannes Hösflot Kläbo and Therese Johaug.
Sports reached out to FIS, the director of the integration department responsible for the anti -doping work of the organization, the Austrian Sarah Fusk to comment.
Logical explanation
According to Fusk, there is a completely logical explanation for the lack of several tops on the list.
– In its own way, each international umbrella organization works with national anti -doping agencies, depending on how strong national testing in each country is.
– If we know that the athlete is subjected to very high quality control of his or her home testing system, we can agree that they will do its job. This leaves us the opportunity to use our resources for athletes, which would otherwise be much less tested.
In practice, Fusk’s statement means that FIS considers the activities of the Finnish Sports Ethics Center (SUEK) to be of such high quality that it even leaves it even with the undeniable superstar of his species such as Iivo Niskanen.
Suek has its own registered test pool. According to the world anti -doping office, the Wada regulation may be a member of more testing pools, but in this case the cooperation must work well between organizations, Fusek says.
– This season, about 22 % of FIS’s testing has been targeted at athletes who are not part of the organization’s testing pool.
“There is no public information”
Suek test manager Katja Huotari says he understands that the lack of an athlete of Iivo Niskanen in the FIS Pool can arouse amazement.
He does not confirm whether Niskanen is in his own testing pool.
– It’s not public information. Of course, the athlete gets it to the public. In principle, doping testing is always confidential. Of course, I know which Finnish skiers belong to FIS Pool and who doesn’t.
However, can it be quite the basic logic that if the names of Niskanen and other mentioned Finnish top skiers are not found in the FIS Test Pool, they can be found in the Suek Pool?
– On a general level, it is a very good reasoning, but I can’t strengthen any names, says Huotari.
– It is quite possible and not even unusual for the international umbrella organization and the national anti -doping agency to agree with each other, which is the athlete and the responsibility of which responsibility. I can tell you that SUEK and FIS are very active in communicating with each other. For example, tests are mainly moving in advance or in real time.
The same obligations
Of course, the most important thing is how the athletes of the national organization’s registered test pool are tested and obliged – compared to members of the international pool.
The obligations of the athletes of the registered test pool are exactly the same, regardless of sports.
– Must be testable all the time, update your whereabouts. According to the international testing and investigation standard, athletes of both registered testing pools will be subjected to at least three out-of-race doping tests per year, Huotari says.
In athletics a different situation
While FIS species are mainly practiced in countries where their own anti-doping work can withstand comparisons, the situation is not the same in all species.
International athletics The testing pool, managed by Athletics Integrity Unit, has only four Finns, or Krista Tervo, Silja Kosonen, Oliver Helander and Wilma Murto.
Correspondingly, for example, from East African countries, the AIU’s testing pool includes hundreds of athletes, as the countries’ own anti-doping activities are not considered to be sufficiently quality for sustainable surveillance.