Organised crime runs ten-million euro illegal doping and steroid business in Finland

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According to official estimates, there are around 10,000 doping users among Finnish health club enthusiasts.
      In reality the figure is likely to be much higher, says University of Turku researcher Tuuli Salospohja, who is preparing her doctoral dissertation on the use of doping among gym-goers.
      The much quoted official figure is based on a study conducted within the armed forces in the early 1990s. In it only testosterone and anabolic steroids were regarded as “doping”.
      Since then the use of doping has not been studied at the full population level.
     
Even the police are interested in doping agents, even though their use is not against the law.
      According to the police, the doping trade in Finland has fallen into the hands of organised crime.
      Det. Sgt. Kimmo Nokkonen from the National Bureau of Investigation (Finland’s central criminal police) says that the doping agents are at least a EUR 10 million business in Finland.
      “Organised crime will certainly not turn its back on such an opportunity.”
      According to Nokkonen, Finland is a popular way-station, though which the doping agents travel to other Nordic countries.
      “Finnish professionals provide storage for the substances, the main market areas of which are Sweden and Norway. There the paid prices are higher than in Finland. But the risks are higher as well, because of tighter legislation.”
     
According to researcher Salospohja, one of the most important reasons for the use of doping is the improvement of one’s appearance.
      “In our western society the looks and appearance play a definite role. They may help a person to get ahead in his relationships or even in working life.”
      For her dissertation in sociology, Salospohja interviewed around 30 former or present users of doping substances.
      One user, “Pete”, resorted to the use of doping in order to improve his results in weight training, but he also noticed the effect that bigger muscles had on his self-esteem.
      “Testosterone brings self-confidence and both women and men admire you.”
      After ten years of doping use, mulling over his own identity caused “Pete” to turn his back on such substances.
      “Is the self-image only about muscles? Or is there something else to this life? That was the decisive question.”
     
In Finland a doping offence has been punishable by law since 2002.
      In the penal code the manufacturing, importing, distribution, and possession for sale of doping substances have all been criminalised.
      The maximum penalty for an aggravated doping offence is four years' imprisonment.
      The use of doping agents, on the other hand, is not punishable under law.
      In recent years the number of filed doping offences has increased rapidly. Last year the Customs Board Crime Prevention Unit recorded 228 doping offences, when in 2005 the corresponding figure was only 95.
      “The majority of such crimes remain uncovered”, believes Nokkonen. “We’ve merely scratched the surface.”
     
One major consideration aside from the legal ramifications of using such substances is that the user of anabolic asteroids carries a five-fold risk of premature death, as doping agents increase the risk of cardiovascular ailments, thrombosis, tumours, and liver disease.
      Such agents can also cause addiction and adverse hormonal changes.
      Not all the harmful side-effects have yet been recognised, as some may manifest themselves only after a lengthy delay.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Customs confiscate record amount of doping agents from two vans (28.4.2007)
  Smuggling of sports doping substances into Finland increasing (29.1.2007)
  Repin train doping confiscation produces gigantic haul (10.5.2005)

See also:
  Illegal hormones most often flown into Finland; one in three users turn aggressive (11.9.2003)

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