What Happened to Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident?
The "Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident" primarily refers to a prolonged controversy surrounding the widespread use and alleged misuse of asthma medication, particularly nebulizers, by the Norwegian national cross-country ski team, including by athletes not diagnosed with asthma. This led to a high-profile doping ban for Martin Johnsrud Sundby in 2016 and subsequent ethical investigations and policy changes within Norwegian sports and international anti-doping bodies. As of July 2026, discussions continue regarding respiratory health in winter sports, while a separate, acute sickness bug recently affected the Norway national football team.
Quick Answer
The Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident centers on the controversy over the team's extensive use of asthma medications, including nebulizers, which some critics argued provided an unfair advantage or were administered without proper medical diagnosis. This culminated in a doping ban for star skier Martin Johnsrud Sundby in 2016 for excessive salbutamol use. The incident prompted ethical investigations, policy reviews by the Norwegian Ski Federation, and stricter guidelines from anti-doping authorities regarding Therapeutic Use Exemptions for such medications. While the core issue was medication use, respiratory problems remain a recognized challenge for winter athletes.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Studies Highlight High Asthma Prevalence in Skiers
Research presented by the European Respiratory Society indicated that an alarming proportion of elite athletes, particularly cross-country skiers, suffered from asthma or wheeze, with some studies showing up to 50% of Norwegian and Swedish skiers affected.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby's First Positive Test
Norwegian skier Martin Johnsrud Sundby tested positive for excessive levels of salbutamol after a 15-kilometer classic race in Davos, Switzerland.
Martin Johnsrud Sundby's Second Positive Test
Sundby again tested positive for excessive salbutamol after a 25k freestyle pursuit at the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy.
Olympiatoppen Changes Nebulizer Instructions
Chief doctor at Olympiatoppen, Roald Bahr, changed instructions for nebulizer use for elite athletes, requiring a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for asthma medication like salbutamol when administered via nebulizer.
Sundby's Doping Ban Announced
Martin Johnsrud Sundby was stripped of his 2014-15 overall World Cup and Tour de Ski titles and received a two-month ban after WADA successfully appealed FIS's initial decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Reports of NSF Recommending Nebulizers to Healthy Athletes
Stories emerged suggesting the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) had recommended healthy skiers use salbutamol nebulizers as preventative therapy, leading to a review of medication use policies.
Junior Skiers Given Asthma Medication Without Diagnosis
Norwegian team doctors prescribed asthma medication (budesonide via nebulizer) to young cross-country skiers at the 2016 Junior and U23 World Championships without a diagnosis, citing air quality issues, sparking international surprise.
Debate Over 'Gray Area' Medication Use Heats Up
The use of saline solution, nebulizers, and asthma medicine among Norwegian nordic ski stars intensified the debate in Norwegian sports circles over doping, with critics arguing the team operated in a 'gray area'.
Research Papers on Asthma Medication Retracted
Two high-profile exercise papers related to giving athletes asthma medication were retracted after ethical approval committees found violations, following an investigation by the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision.
Large Doses of Asthma Medicine for Pyeongchang Olympics
NRK reported that over 6000 doses of asthma medicine were sent with the Norwegian team to the Pyeongchang Olympics, intended for practitioners and support staff, sparking further discussion.
Norway Cross-Country Ski Team Selection for 2025/2026
The Norwegian Ski Association unveiled its elite national cross-country skiing team for the 2025/2026 training season, indicating normal operational continuity after past controversies.
Continued Discussion on Asthma Medication Use
An article revisited Martin Johnsrud Sundby's case, noting the 'absurdly high percentage' of Norwegian team members diagnosed with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, indicating the issue remains a topic of discussion.
Norway Announces Initial Olympic Team for Milano-Cortina 2026
Norway announced the first eight members of its Olympic Team for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, highlighting the ongoing competitive cycle for the ski team.
Respiratory Problems in Winter Olympians Discussed
A CU Anschutz newsroom article highlighted that asthma is common among elite athletes, particularly winter sports participants, with more than half of elite cross-country skiers experiencing related symptoms.
Norway Football Team Hit by Sickness Bug
The Norway national football (soccer) team was affected by a sickness bug ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England, with the team doctor confirming players were healthy. This is a separate, acute incident from the ski team's historical medication controversy.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The 'Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident' gained significant international attention around 2016, but its roots lie in the long-standing issue of respiratory problems among elite endurance and winter athletes. Studies as early as 2000 highlighted a high prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms among cross-country skiers, attributed to intense training in cold, dry air. This physiological challenge created a context where the use of asthma medication became common.
The controversy escalated with the doping case of Norwegian cross-country skiing star Martin Johnsrud Sundby. In July 2016, it was revealed that Sundby had received a two-month ban and was stripped of his 2014-2015 overall World Cup and Tour de Ski titles. His positive tests in December 2014 and January 2015 showed excessive levels of salbutamol, an asthma medication, administered via a nebulizer. While salbutamol is permitted up to a certain limit with a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Sundby's method of administration (nebulizer) and dosage exceeded the allowed maximum without a proper TUE. The International Ski Federation (FIS) had initially cleared Sundby, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed this decision to CAS.
Further revelations intensified the debate. Reports emerged suggesting that the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) had recommended the use of salbutamol nebulizers as a 'preventative therapy' to healthy skiers, not just those with diagnosed asthma. In November 2016, it was reported that Norwegian team doctors had prescribed asthma medication to young cross-country skiers at the 2016 Junior and U23 World Championships without a formal asthma diagnosis, citing air quality issues. This practice drew strong criticism from rival nations and raised ethical questions about whether the team was operating in a 'gray area' of anti-doping rules.
The ethical concerns deepened in January 2018 when two high-profile research papers, which involved giving athletes asthma medication, were retracted due to a lack of proper ethical approval for human subjects research. The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision had investigated these papers since 2016, finding ethical violations and ordering the destruction of research material. In response to the scandal, Olympiatoppen (the organization for elite sport in Norway) changed its instructions for nebulizer use, requiring a TUE for asthma medication like salbutamol when administered via nebulizer. The Norwegian Ski Federation also announced a full review of its medication use policies.
As of July 2026, the long-term impact includes a heightened awareness and stricter adherence to anti-doping regulations regarding asthma medication in Norwegian skiing. The high prevalence of asthma among winter athletes continues to be a subject of research and discussion, with some studies in February 2026 noting that more than half of elite cross-country skiers experience asthma-related symptoms. While the core of the 'Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident' refers to this medication controversy, it's important to note a separate, acute 'sickness bug' affected the Norway national football team in July 2026 ahead of a World Cup quarter-final, which was a distinct, short-term health issue.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Norway Ski Team Sickness Incident made different choices?