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Finns ban all intravenous methods
HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- Finnish sports officials have decided to ban cross-country skiers from using all intravenous injections, after a doping scandal shook the nation. The ban will not only include plasma expanders and other illegal drugs but also injecting permitted salt and sugar liquids used by athletes to recuperate after strenuous training or competition. The measure comes months after six top Finnish cross-country skiers failed dope tests at the World Nordic Ski Championships in Lahti, southern Finland. They tested positive for HES, a banned plasma expander, injected into the blood to improve performance or hide the use of other banned substances. "We have taken a definite negative stand against the infusion of any liquid solutions. In no circumstances will the team be allowed to use this method," Heikki Kantola, chief coach of the Finnish Olympic Committee, said Tuesday. "If a competitor's health suffers and they need an infusion for health reasons, it will be carried out by medical officials provided by competition organizers," Kantola said. Drinking salt and sugar solutions will not be banned, he said. The ban was imposed by the Finnish Olympic Committee, Finland's Anti-Doping Committee and the Finnish Ski Association. Kantola said they will propose the ban be adopted internationally in a letter to the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Skiing Federation. The Lahti doping cases, which included the nation's top skiers, caused a scandal and threw a wide net of suspicion over Finnish cross-country skiing. Finland forfeited four medals, including the men's team gold in the 4 X 10-kilometer relay and the women's silver in the 4 x 5-kilometer relay. Three of the country's top ski coaches were dismissed and banned for life, and the team physicians who helped in injecting the banned substances resigned. The male skiers who tested positive were Jari Isometsa, Mika Myllyla, Janne Immonen and veteran Harri Kirvesniemi, 42, a six-time Olympic competitor with 11 medals. The two women were Milla Jauho and Virpi Kuitunen. All were banned from competition for two years. In a report last month, a government-appointed working group said there were "strong indications" that Finnish skiers had used HES to cover up traces of EPO, or erythropoetin, that builds endurance by boosting the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells.
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