Marit Björgen's doping miss stops her comeback

Marit Björgen has trained hard this season to be in the long-distance race cup, with the Vasaloppet in March as the big goal.

She does training results that are as good as she did before the 2018 Olympics, according to herself - which has made her open to again challenging the "usual" length elite.

But now she has suffered a heavy setback, and is forced to wait for her competition comeback.

- I have been away from the anti-doping program.

I left it when I quit.

And I have to be there for six months.

I was out a little too late, she tells NRK.

"Thought it was implied ..."

Björgen tells NRK that it was only after she had announced her long-distance venture that she was asked if she had joined the so-called Adams program (where practitioners constantly fill in where they are, so that the doping hunters can find them for tests) again.

And she did not.

- I thought it was implied that I was available for tests again by saying that I would compete in some long distance races.

I did not think I needed to go back to Adams, but it might have been a little naive on my part.

So I have to take on this, says the 40-year-old.

NRK does not write when Björgen signed up for the Adams system, and when she will thus be allowed to compete again.

However, they write that it is doubtful whether she can take part in the classic Marcialonga at the turn of the month January / February, a competition that she would like to go to in preparation for the Vasaloppet.