Perspectives to Doping Substance Use outside Elite Sports in Finland

The debate on doping use outside professional sports in Finland got in full swing in September 2007, when the then Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin expressed his concern about doping use becoming more common outside professional sports. He even questioned whether doping use was becoming a national disease. Wallin’s question has remained unanswered, and the debate on doping outside professional sports has mostly relied on stereotypes and false information.

The use of doping outside professional sports cannot be regarded as deceit or breaking the moral values of sports. The international and sport-related anti-doping rules are made to regulate various sport events, not individual drug use. This distinction is further emphasized by noncriminalization of the use and possession of doping substances in Finland.