they might dismiss the case altogether...
that much became clear at the press conference, though the anti-doping norge said it was one of the possibilities.
a no consequence dismissal of an anabolic steroid positive without a hearing would be unprecedented, if memory serves. but everything is possible in norway, when a xc ski sect is mobilized to save one of their own.
the following questions are critical. and i will attempt to qualify what i can based on whatever little info known so far.
1. which testing authority ordered the test ?
this q is instrumental to evaluating the degree of objectivity as to how the consequences will be handled. only one of the following 4 could: the fis, the norwegian ski fed/ anti-doping norge, the italian coni, the wada. if it is the 1st two, i expect the case dismissal as it was with sundby, but a true shytstorm will follow. guaranteed. wada will appeal. i am 200% sure.
2. which lab detected the steroid ?
this is important b/c i know for a fact that not every wada lab has the equipment sensitive enough to detect a very low level. the steroid is a non-specif substance, meaning ANY level found is an automatic adrv.
my hunch it was a german lab - perhaps cologne - well known to lead in detecting steroids. bad news for therese.
3. what was the concentration in urine ?
this Q is crucial. the norges already told the world at the press conference, w/o revealing the concentration, it was consistent with applying a cream. to any specialist or a chemist this is a downright crap. 1st because one needs to know the time the cream was applied compared the drug half-life and related to the test day, and 2nd the athlete story can not be taken for granted w/o the verification. for instance, say she took a tablet but got tested when the drug almost washed out due to metabolic clearance. things like that, is what the anti-doping is about.
i smell fish...