Norway's men's football team recently had an unexpected encounter with the country's anti-doping agency during a routine testing session. The agency requested urine samples from several players, including Erling Haaland, a prominent player from Manchester City. However, what made this particular testing session unique was the inclusion of two former Norwegian football legends, Jorgen Juve and Einar Gundersen, who have long passed away.
Norway's manager, Stale Solbakken, shared his surprise at the selection of Juve and Gundersen for testing, given their historical significance in Norwegian football. The team even questioned the legitimacy of the request, humorously suggesting the possibility of a hidden camera. Ultimately, the tests on the deceased players came back negative, highlighting the unusual error in the selection process.
While Haaland and other active players were present for testing, one player, Antonio Nusa, was absent due to injury. The mix-up with the inclusion of Gundersen and Juve, who are known for their impressive goal-scoring records in the early 20th century, sparked amusement and reflection within the anti-doping agency.
The communications director of Anti-Doping Norway acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to a potential oversight in the selection process. Despite the lighthearted nature of the incident, the agency emphasized the importance of maintaining accuracy in their testing procedures and vowed to review their protocols to prevent similar errors in the future.
