Suek’s General Counsel Petteri Lindblom explains why the processing of Ari Luusua’s doping cart took an exceptionally long time. Usually, a doping case resolves in Finland in about 4–5 months.
16: 01 • Updated 4:06 PM
Skier Ari Luusuan the schedules of the doping case have caused confusion. It took almost a year for a positive doping sample to go public.
General Counsel of the Finnish Sports Ethics Center SUEK Petteri Lindblomin according to the case was a much more complicated case than usual. SUEK is responsible for anti-doping work in Finland.
– We conducted an investigation last autumn even outside Finland. I don’t want to tell you more for investigative reasons, but a decent field investigation, Lindblom told Sport.
At the time of the test, Luusua had a valid two-year athlete contract with a member association of the Swedish Ski Association.
Luusua gave a positive doping test on July 20, 2021. The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee issued its decision on the case on March 1, 2022, after which Luusua appealed the decision to the Sports Judicial Security Committee. The Judicial Security Board rejected Luusua’s complaint and reported on the matter on Monday, June 20th.
According to Lindblom, there were long deadlines in the case after the field investigations to ensure the athlete’s legal protection and fair trial.
– There was an exchange of letters. Towards the end of the year, the parties, chaired by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Board, will consider whether this matter can be dealt with as a written procedure between the parties.
An oral hearing was finally held at the turn of January-February. A month later, the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Board wrote its decision. The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Board is an independent body appointed by the SUEK Annual Meeting to deal with doping violations.
– After that, the Finnish system will start a complaint process with 30 days to complain. The Sports Judicial Security Committee will then have its own time. They also have a lot of stuff in there.
– There was no hurry with the decision, because Luusua had announced that he would end his career in September. He was on a temporary ban throughout the process.
The Sports Judicial Security Board is an appeal body independent of sports organizations that deals with sports-related appeals.
Luusu was ordered to ban sports for four years, which is the maximum penalty for using a doping substance or method.
The competition is fast
In sports championships, such as the World Championships, the doping cart can be revealed almost immediately. Lindblom says that according to the International Anti-Doping Code, the Anti-Doping Agency can report the test result immediately.
– Once the Athlete has been notified, the Athlete has the right to be notified of the names of the Athlete and the Prohibited Substance found and whether the Athlete has been suspended. This is the case, for example, at value competitions, and in some countries this is the same practice.
In Finland, SUEK only publishes decisions when they are final, and in practice they can no longer be appealed.
There are a lot of anti-doping players in the international fields. In addition to national anti-doping agencies such as SUEK and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), international sports organizations are also anti-doping actors.
– Your example The International Athletics Federation is an anti-doping operator similar to SUEK, meaning it tests and imposes penalties and has its own disciplinary procedures. FIFA and all such international sports organizations are also anti-doping agencies. And also the International Olympic Committee, Lindblom lists.
This is how the doping case is progressing in Finland
Lindblom estimates that SUEK usually takes about 4-5 months to process a doping case from start to finish.
After testing an athlete, a laboratory sample is usually obtained after three or four weeks.
If the Sample is positive, the Athlete will be notified and will have one week to respond if he or she wishes the Sample B to be tested. It takes two or three weeks to examine Sample B.
– Following the submission of the Athlete’s response, a indictment will be issued by SUEK identifying what is suspected and required as a sanction. It usually takes a couple of weeks depending on what other stuff is pending.
The athlete has three weeks to respond to the indictment. The matter will then be referred to the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Board.
The Disciplinary Committee will seek a suitable date for the Athlete, the Witnesses, the SUEK and the members of the Committee.
– It has many elements that decide when it comes to agreeing schedules for everyone.
– After that, we have to wait a month to see if the athlete will complain about the decision. If not, we can publish the decision. If you complain, we depend on how long the matter goes on before the Judicial Security Committee.
An Athlete may not refuse to disclose a positive test result.
– Athletes are committed to the Anti-Doping Code, which states that results are always made public.