Norwegian Anti-Doping Agency’s Blunder: Testing Dead Players Raises Eyebrows
The Norwegian national football team received an unexpected visit from the country’s Anti-Doping Agency ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures. However, the surprise turned into confusion when it was revealed that two players who have been deceased for over four decades were selected for testing. The incident left Norway’s manager, Stale Solbakken, bewildered and questioning whether there was a hidden camera capturing the bizarre turn of events.
The players in question were Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb. But to everyone’s surprise, the agency also called for urine samples from Jorgen Juve and Einar Gundersen, who tragically passed away many years ago. Jorgen Juve, Norway’s all-time top goalscorer, died in 1983, while Einar Gundersen, often considered the country’s first superstar, passed away in 1962.
Upon hearing the names of the deceased players being selected for testing, Solbakken initially suspected a possible prank and began searching for hidden cameras. However, it turned out that an agency official had mistakenly picked players from Norway’s all-time top goalscorers’ list, with a few additional names added on.
Solbakken shared his astonishment with reporters, saying, “We had a visit from Anti-Doping Norway yesterday. The following players were selected for testing: Haaland, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Antonio Nusa, Bobb, Gundersen, and Juve. Then I start to wonder. These were the names that were read out, and it was serious. So we had to call Anti-Doping Norway and ask, ‘Is there a hidden camera?'”
Adding to the series of blunders, Oscar Bobb couldn’t even undergo the testing as he was not included in the squad due to a leg fracture he suffered before the start of the Premier League season. The inclusion of deceased players and the oversight regarding Bobb’s absence only added to the absurdity of the situation.
Jorgen Juve, who netted 33 goals for Norway, was born in 1906 and passed away at the age of 76 in 1983. Einar Gundersen, who scored 26 goals for the national team, was born in 1896 and died in 1962 at the age of 66. On the other hand, Erling Haaland, who is currently second on the all-time goalscorers’ list with 31 goals, is poised to surpass Juve’s record with just three more goals.
Anti-Doping Norway has expressed its commitment to investigating how Juve and Gundersen ended up on the list of players to be tested, aiming to rectify the error promptly. In the meantime, Bobb will miss Norway’s Nations League matches against Kazakhstan and Ralf Rangnick’s Austria.
This astonishing blunder by the Norwegian Anti-Doping Agency highlights the need for thorough checks and attention to detail in the selection process for testing athletes. While the incident may seem comical at first glance, it raises concerns about the efficiency and credibility of anti-doping procedures. Proper protocols and systems must be in place to ensure accurate and valid testing, preserving the integrity of the sport and the trust of athletes and fans alike.
As the Norwegian national team prepares for their upcoming Nations League fixtures, they can now focus on their performance on the field, relieved that the bizarre incident was merely a case of administrative oversight rather than something more sinister. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and meticulousness in maintaining the integrity of the beautiful game.