I read only yesterday about a bridge player (!) who had tested positive for an (unnamed) illegal substance. It is an extreme example (and one that is hard to understand) but it just goes to show that there is no doping-free sport. And doping is not just a problem in the "big money" sports.

I remember Swedish cross-country skier Per Elofsson saying a couple of years ago that the public would be shocked if they knew how common doping was in elite sports, and how naive it was to think that all victories were fair. Indeed, during the latest World Championships a large part of the Finnish skiers were found to have taken EPO, and during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics several cross-country skiing medals were retracted because of positive doping tests.

To me, badminton must be an ideal sport for the cheating athlete. Speed, explosiveness, strength, stamina are major factors, all of which are possible to improve using illegal methods. It is also a very injury-prone sport, and many athletes will do anything to recover quicker from an injury, including doping.


Jonas, what is your opinion on this? Is doping common in badminton? Are we being too naive? And is the current testing system enough? How often are you tested yourself?

There is definitely no problems with doping in badminton in Denmark. I know because we get tested a lot. Once every 2 months. I´ve only heard one player being tested positive and that was Sigit. I don´t know everything that goes on in this world, so I cannot tell any more than that. If it´s there it has to be revealed before I can tell you more.

So far doping is no problem compared to others sports!!

Thank you!