Ari Luusua has been banned for doping for four years. Luusua appealed the decision to the Sports Arbitration Board, claiming that he had ended his career before testing positive, but the penalty remained in force.

The decision of the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board shows that Luusua tested positive in a test carried out in Rovaniemi on July 20^th, 2021. The test contained a metabolite of the anabolic steroid drostanolone and meldonium.

Quote from the decision of the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board:

“A was subjected to an out-of-competition doping test in Rovaniemi on 20 July 2021. The sample A of the test was positive and contained the metabolite of drostanolone 3a-hydroxy-2α-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one, which belongs to category S1 anabolic substances of the WADA Prohibited Substances and Methods List 2021, and meldonium, which belongs to category S4.3 hormone and metabolic modulators of the list. Neither of these substances is a Specified Substance. The substances in question are prohibited at all times. A has not requested the analysis of sample B.”

Luusua filed an appeal, claiming that he had already ended his career before the positive sample was given. However, the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board ruled that although Luusua did not have a valid FIS-licence and was not a member of a Finnish ski club at the time, his contract with the Swedish Team Nordic Athlete and his other competitive activities showed that the rules would still apply to Luusua.

Quote from the Finnish Sports Arbitration Board’s decision:

“The two-year contract with the Swedish professional team NASK signed in spring 2021 and A’s activities in June, July and August 2021 taken as a whole show that although A had considered ending his career and had also discussed the matter with a representative of NASK, he had not withdrawn from competitive sport at least before the Trollhättan competition at the end of August 2021. Therefore, the Finnish Anti-Doping Code has been applicable to A.”