The coronavirus has affected most of society since the first cases were diagnosed a year ago.

The possibility of conducting doping tests is no exception.

Figures from Anti-Doping Sweden, which SVT received, show that the number of tests fell by 42 percent during the pandemic.

In 2019, a total of 3796 tests were conducted at the elite level and in 2020 only 2208.

Created group with other countries

One reason for the decrease is the most critical time last spring when virtually all sports and all competitions were canceled.

Several countries' anti-doping organizations, including Sweden, then discussed solutions that then formed the basis for Wada's guidelines, which were published in May.

Only then did Anti-Doping Sweden experience that testing was stepped up again.

- We also had to try to make a risk assessment, which tests were necessary and which can wait.

Our assessment was that the elite athletes and especially those who are trying to qualify for the Olympics and European Championships - those tests are important.

Athletes at a lower level were left behind, says Jenny Schulze.

"We have thought of a little more"

In total, with athletes at lower levels included, 2464 doping tests were performed in 2020. This can be compared with 4962 the previous year.

Jenny Schulze admits that there is a risk that the reduced testing last year will increase doping at a lower level.

But when it comes to elite athletes, she sees no cause for concern at all.

- We may have thought a little more about what we test and when because we have not been able to do quite as many tests as we thought.

I do not feel that we neglected some of the elite athletes last year.

Of the tests we planned to do, we have done almost 80 percent.

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