06/27/2025 – 4:20 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Therese Johaug is four times the Olympic champion. However, she missed the 2018 games because of a doping lock. Now she talks about the case of the German athlete Victoria Carl.
Therese Johaug won pretty much everything that is possible in cross -country skiing. The Norwegian is a fourteen world champion and four -time Olympic champion. At the 2010 Winter Games, she won gold over the 4×5 kilometers. In 2022 she was even at the top three times on the podium. The 37-year-old was only allowed to take part in the 2018 winter games due to a doping lock. A few days ago, the positive doping test of the German long runner Victoria Carl became known. Johaug has now commented on this.
She told the Norwegian public service broadcasting NRK: “It is a small shock. It is very annoying and sad that there is another case. There have been a few cases.” What Johaug says: Carl was tested positively for Clenbuterol outside of the competition. As the German Ski Association (DSV) announced, the forbidden substance was found in a doping control. The national anti-doping agency (NADA) has initiated a procedure and Carl could miss the winter games in Milan in the coming year through a possible lock.
Just like Johaug at the time the major event in Pyeongchang. Therefore, the Norwegian continued: “I find it very sad for Victoria. It seems to be very similar to the case in which I was, so I know what it means. I know how challenging it will be.” At Johaug, the androgenic steroid closebol was detected in 2016. Her team doctor at the time had testified that Johaug had given a lip balm against sunburn in which the steroid was in it. The Norwegian was closed for 18 months.
At Victoria Carl, a coughing juice should be to blame for the positive test. In a message from the DSV, she said: “I was sick, had strong coughing fits and took the medication on a medical instruction. I disclosed everything – I was not aware that a forbidden active ingredient is included. I very much hope that the circumstances will be understood and assessed fairly.”
Johaug says: “After what I know from the media about the case, it seems to be exactly the same case. An acute illness and a doctor to treat it. The responsibility is clearly with the athletes.” At the time, as she revealed in an interview with “Eurosport”, she had started crying and screaming when I saw myself in the mirror “and understood what it was about. After her lock, however, Johaug came back and secured Olympic gold three times.