It was after the match between Lillestrøm and Vålerenga in the Norwegian women's top league in April that the doping-classified substance was found in the samples.
An investigation by the Norwegian Football Association and Anti-Doping Norway showed that the elevated levels of DMBA in the players were traced to the rubber granules in the artificial turf at the LSK hall. Through breathing, the players absorbed particles into the body.
In Sweden, artificial turf pitches with rubber granules of the same type as in the LSK hall are common throughout the country. There, both children and breadth and elite train.
The Players' Association, a trade union for Swedish football players, writes in a statement to TT:
"We take seriously what has emerged in Norway. It should be further investigated as soon as possible. Doping is, of course, completely unacceptable".
"We hope that the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) and the relevant authorities take this very seriously in Sweden as well, and we look forward to discussing this further with various actors. Since we are already working today to get more people to play on natural grass instead of artificial turf."
Amphetamine-like side effects
DMBA is listed under stimulants on the doping list found in some dietary supplements – especially in so-called "pre-workout products" that are performance-enhancing. They are used to reduce fatigue and increase endurance, according to Anti-Doping Sweden.
Some DMBA products may be used during training but not in competition contexts. The type of DMBA found in the granules is prohibited as a dietary supplement within the EU.
Jenny Schulze, head of the doping control department at Anti-Doping Sweden, believes that long-term exposure to DMBA poses a risk.
It affects people differently, but if you take a lot of it, you can get the same side effects as you get from amphetamine-like substances – sleep disorders, anxiety, tremors, and palpitations.
Calling for calm
The Swedish Football Association, which has closely followed the events in Norway along with the other Nordic associations, believes that there is no reason to panic.
According to the Public Health Institute in Norway, it does not pose a health risk. It is only in indoor halls that the levels can become so high that they give a positive result for doping, says Stefan Cårebo, facility manager at the Swedish Football Association.
The Norwegian Football Association today recommends that only adult competitive matches be moved outdoors. While youth activities and training can continue as usual, even indoors.
It is important that our medical experts make an assessment of what possible measures we will take in Sweden. One should keep in mind that this is the only proven case, so this must be further investigated.
In Swedish elite football, SBR granules are found, among other places, on the Damallsvenska Linköping's home ground Bilbörsen Arena and in Allsvenskan Studenternas in Uppsala and Platinumcars Arena in Norrköping.
Our team doctor has ongoing contact with the association and is monitoring the situation along with the medical team. It does not worry us at present based on the information we have and does not change our operations right now, says Sirius club director Martin Malmberg.
"Doped for half a year"
LSK striker Johanna Johnsson Haahr, who played the match, tells how the incident affected her:
The team joked about it at first and said "Good, we've been doped for half a year", but it was really just a joke. Because it was uncomfortable. Just that it can get into the body and that you don't really understand how, at first, it's uncomfortable.
You think ahead, what else is there that can get into the body? Maybe outside of training and then suddenly you test positive. It was uncomfortable.
