Copenhagen: Ten days before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics badminton tournament, Denmark’s World No. 11 mixed doubles pair, Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje, has chosen to withdraw from the Paris Games.
More specifically, it was Mathias Christiansen’s decision to withdraw. This decision comes after Christiansen made three mistakes within the past 12 months where he failed to report his whereabouts, as Anti-Doping Denmark requires athletes to report their locations for potential doping tests.
If athletes are unavailable for the test, they receive a warning. The rules stipulate that three warnings in 12 months can lead to a case with Anti-Doping Denmark regarding a violation of anti-doping rules.
On Saturday – four days ago – Mathias Christiansen received his third warning in the last 12 months, meaning he now risks a penalty.
Although failure to report whereabouts doesn’t necessarily imply cheating, reporting locations has become a crucial method in the fight against doping.
That is why these rules must be taken seriously, even if in this case there is nothing to indicate it is anything other than carelessness from Christiansen.
Currently, it is uncertain what the consequences may be, but many indications suggest that some form of suspension awaits Mathias Christiansen.
He is now waiting to see if Anti-Doping Denmark (ADD) will report the case to the Doping Board, which will then decide on a possible sanction.
Theoretically, Christiansen/Bøje could still compete, but many believe the withdrawal is the right decision, given that there are only nine days until the Olympic opening ceremony. Participating in the Olympics with such a case hanging over their heads would be a significant disturbance for Christiansen/Bøje and all Danish athletes, not just in badminton, but in other sports as well.
Below are a few Q&As between Denmark’s TV 2 Sport and Christiansen:
TV 2 Sport: “You call it “lack of care and sloppiness” – can you flatly deny that you have taken illegal substances and that it has thus been an attempt to hide the use of doping?”
Christiansen: “I can deny 100 percent that I have taken any kind of illegal substances. The warnings in connection with my ‘whereabouts’ are solely due to errors I made in my reports.”
TV 2 Sport: “Can you elaborate on “what mistakes have been made?”, as mentioned in the press release – have you forgotten to state where you are, have you been somewhere else?”
Christiansen: “Top athletes must report where we will be three months ahead. One of the mistakes is that I did not report in time. Other offenses are due to changes in the places I have been, and unfortunately, I did not report this correctly to Anti Doping Denmark. The third offense was last Saturday when I was visiting family in Jutland and not at home in Copenhagen as I had originally entered.”
TV 2 Sport: “When exactly did you get your third and ‘last’ warning, and what went through your mind when you received it?”
Christiansen: “After the first two warnings, I really made extra efforts with my reports. I have, for example, had a daily alarm and a daily reminder on my phone, and I have had a “whereabout” sign hanging over my bed. I will regret the mistake for the rest of my life, and I am really disappointed and angry at myself for it.”
TV 2 Sport: “You are 30 years old, and Anti Doping Denmark says that the penalty framework is usually 1-2 years. Will it be the end of your career if you get more than one year of suspension?”
Christiansen: “I have only had a few days to consider the situation, so right now I just want peace and quiet to recover and figure out how I can create the best possible scenario for my future badminton career after a suspension. But my plan is definitely to come back.”
Denmark will compete without a mixed doubles pair at the Games. This is because the deadline for replacement was July 8 – five days before Christiansen’s third breach of anti-doping rules.
