He has been banned from all competitions for four years and largely avoided public appearances since his doping conviction in 2021, but now he is targeting the 2026 Winter Olympics.

In 2021, Finnish cross-country skier Ari Luusua was handed a four-year ban for anti-doping violations and fined €100,000. The suspension expired on January 3, 2026.

During the ban, Luusua was rarely seen in public. He trained alone and avoided contact with others in the skiing community. Now that the suspension has ended, the 37-year-old is determined to try to qualify for the Olympic Games, which begin in less than a month.

Last weekend, Luusua competed with a race bib for the first time since his ban, taking part in the Scandinavian Cup in Finland.

New perspective after time away

Luusua says the ban gave him a new perspective on sport and performance.

“Four years away from competition gave me perspective. I learned to appreciate the sport in a different way, not only in terms of results, but as a lifestyle. I realized that even as time passed, I never lost my passion for the sport, and the constant hunger is just as strong. That is exactly why I am coming back,” he wrote on Instagram last autumn.

In the post, Luusua thanked those who supported him during his suspension.

“After four years, I have finally understood one thing, it is not the goal that matters, but the journey and the people you share it with,” he wrote.

Tested positive for doping

Before switching to long-distance skiing, Ari Luusua was one of Finland’s top sprinters in the World Cup. In long-distance, he achieved several podium finishes and battled for victories against long-distance stars.

However, on July 20, 2021, Luusua tested positive for doping. The Finn tested positive for drostanolone (Masteron) and meldonium. The former is an anabolic androgenic steroid, while the latter is a heart medication. Both substances are on WADA’s prohibited list.

Fined €100,000

At the time, Luusua was attending a training camp when he was suspended for four years by the Swedish Anti-Doping Agency’s disciplinary committee.

He appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that he had ended his active career in July 2021 and was therefore no longer subject to WADA regulations. However, Luusua did not publicly announce his retirement until September, when he posted the decision on Instagram.

CAS rejected the appeal and upheld the four-year ban. In addition, the Finnish skier was fined €100,000.

A long road to the Olympics

Luusua is now attempting to qualify for Finland’s Olympic team for Milano-Cortina 2026. That task appears challenging. At last weekend’s Scandinavian Cup races in Vantaa, the 37-year-old finished 80th in the 10km freestyle race.

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