Girl skater suspended for flouting doping rules

The Netherlands – A 13-year-old speed skater has been suspended by the Royal Dutch Skaters’ Association (KNSB) because she refuses to cooperate with anti-doping checks.

Last month the anti-doping authority told Dominique Lommers she had to log into a website continually to report her whereabouts, stating a time and place each day at which she would be available for a drug test. She says it is unrealistic to impose such a regime on a child

The measures, usually reserved for adult top athletes, were imposed because Dominique’s brother Wesley is facing a two-year suspension after testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandralone.

He is the youngest Dutch athlete ever to have failed such a test. A doping authority spokesman said the strict checks were needed for Dominique because she does the same sport as her brother, also at a high level, and she moves in the same circles.

The KNSB stressed that if the girl’s parents gave their written consent for her to comply with the anti-doping regulations, the suspension would immediately be lifted. Her father claims his family are the victims of a witch-hunt.

See the Radio Netherlands Worldwide video report in This week in the Netherlands.

Radio Netherlands/Expatica