The Fall of the Queen of Nordic Skiing: A comparative analysis of the Swedish and Norwegian media coverage of the Therese Johaug scandal

Abstract

In 2016, Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug made her positive doping test public. We compare how the Norwegian and Swedish media covered the ensuing scandal with the aim of discovering how constructions of subjectivity, national identity, anti-doping policy and the role of cross-country skiing are interrelated. Drawing on a critical discourse analytical research design, we identify significant differences: the Norwegian media hesitated to call it a doping scandal and occasionally portrayed Johaug as a victim, whereas the Swedish media provided a platform for harsh criticism of the Norwegian’s use of medicine and emphasised the individual responsibility of the athlete. Thus, this study elucidates how sport is mediated as part of a national rivalry between two Scandinavian countries that are both heavily engaged in cross-country skiing.

Reviewing and problematizing methods and analytical strategies of discourse analysis in sport, exercise, and physical education studies

“…We abstained from consulting external expertise as a stage of our review (Arksey and O’Malley, 2005), instead we utilized our diverse and interdisciplinary backgrounds and our experiences with DA (Sveinson and Allison, 2022; Sveinson et al, 2021; Wagner and Kristiansen, 2019; Wagner and Pedersen, 2014). Below, we focus on methods and analytical strategies employed.…”

The Democratic Significance of Everyday News Use: Using Diaries to Understand Public Connection over Time and beyond Journalism

“…Short of two weeks later, another piece of major sports news broke as the celebrated Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug was charged for use of banned substances, in the form of medication for sunburned lips. The story was covered massively across national media, with a live press conference, extensive commentaries, and investigative reporting in Norway and internationally to uncover timelines, causalities, blame, and consequences for the athlete, for Norwegian sports and for national pride and identity (Wagner and Kristiansen 2019). Figure 1 illustrates the amount of coverage of the two stories, and their different lifespan: The build-up to the Oct 1st boxing match, followed by a dip on the Sunday, and then the commentaries on Monday (Oct 3rd), which constitutes a peak that slowly fades out.…”

Detectability of oxandrolone, metandienone, clostebol and dehydrochloromethyltestosterone in urine after transdermal application

“…She stated that the positive test result arose from the lip balm but, regardless, she was banned from sport competition for 13 months before the period of ineligibility was even extended. 12 Moreover, athletes that tested positive for doping agents often assert their innocence and claim an unintended use or a third-party administration. For example, a group of Olympic athletes was tested positive for the clostebol main metabolite after either using Trofodermin ® ointment themselves or, in some occasions, athletes stated that they only applied the ointment to a teammate.…”

“…Her team doctor prescribed the used lip‐balm to Johaug. She stated that the positive test result arose from the lip balm but, regardless, she was banned from sport competition for 13 months before the period of ineligibility was even extended 12 . Moreover, athletes that tested positive for doping agents often assert their innocence and claim an unintended use or a third‐party administration.…”