For the younger members, here is a photo of Lasse Viren at the 1972 Munich Games during the 10,000 meter finish. A race he won after picking himself off the track and working his way to the front.
His coach and medical doctor denied any blood doping. An arch rival from Britian-Foster-also denied Lasse was cheating.
What is even more interesting is how the mid 90’s Norway XC ski team gets off the hook, having beaten the Italian and Finnish dopers.
I agree. its interesting that some countries and some athletes are raised from the suspicions of doping.Guys like norwegian Bjorn Dahlie, Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe or any swede( like it seems to be the belief here in Sweden) “couldnt” have been using doping.
The fall gets higher if you put someone or yourself on the pedestal.
Steffen Kjärgaard,who was the sports director for the national cycling team in Norway admitted epo use 1998.he came clean last year, which came as a chock for the norwegians.
I’m having difficulty believing that the Norway XC skiers could dominate a world of EPO fuelled dopers through the 90’s only with better grinding and better wax. Look at it this way…better ski grinding and better wax applies equally well to Alpine skiing as it does to Cross Country. Any ski prep “secrets” would have circled back to the Italians, Austrian, Swiss, American and Canadian XC skiers via their Alpine programs, because there is a ton more money in the Alpine circuit and the ski companies want their skis under the fastest Alpine skiers (ex: Alberto Tomba). Norway dominated through the 90’s in the same era as Indurain, Riis, Pantani and Ullrich, in a sport that is equally affected by EPO, while there were no EPO tests. I still want to believe in Alsgaard, Ulvang and Dahlie…I really do, because I thought these guys were awesome. I can believe they had the equipment edge for one Olympics, but hard to believe for an entire decade.
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How about the Soviet Bloc nations in the 70s, the East German female swimmers were built like linebackers
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I’m having difficulty believing that the Norway XC skiers could dominate a world of EPO fuelled dopers through the 90’s only with better grinding and better wax. Look at it this way…better ski grinding and better wax applies equally well to Alpine skiing as it does to Cross Country. Any ski prep “secrets” would have circled back to the Italians, Austrian, Swiss, American and Canadian XC skiers via their Alpine programs, because there is a ton more money in the Alpine circuit and the ski companies want their skis under the fastest Alpine skiers (ex: Alberto Tomba). Norway dominated through the 90’s in the same era as Indurain, Riis, Pantani and Ullrich, in a sport that is equally affected by EPO, while there were no EPO tests. I still want to believe in Alsgaard, Ulvang and Dahlie…I really do, because I thought these guys were awesome. I can believe they had the equipment edge for one Olympics, but hard to believe for an entire decade.
It would be real sad to see guys like them admitting doping. They were so great. In the 80s Norway stand no change against Sweden in xc skiing as in most sports 
it changed.They have been great since the 90s and contiunes to be so with guys like Northug.Thank god they cant play icehockey
But its very possible that they had some help… The guys included in the finnish scandal stated that the norwegians doped as well but its hard to know what´s true and not. Until we get proof or somebody come clean…
Looking at East German women and I’ve got a shriver.
How about the Soviet Bloc nations in the 70s, the East German female swimmers were built like linebackers
Well they were obviously taking a lot of PEDs to bulk up like that, but blood doping may or may not have been included on the program.
I’m having difficulty believing that the Norway XC skiers could dominate a world of EPO fuelled dopers through the 90’s only with better grinding and better wax. Look at it this way…better ski grinding and better wax applies equally well to Alpine skiing as it does to Cross Country. Any ski prep “secrets” would have circled back to the Italians, Austrian, Swiss, American and Canadian XC skiers via their Alpine programs, because there is a ton more money in the Alpine circuit and the ski companies want their skis under the fastest Alpine skiers (ex: Alberto Tomba). Norway dominated through the 90’s in the same era as Indurain, Riis, Pantani and Ullrich, in a sport that is equally affected by EPO, while there were no EPO tests. I still want to believe in Alsgaard, Ulvang and Dahlie…I really do, because I thought these guys were awesome. I can believe they had the equipment edge for one Olympics, but hard to believe for an entire decade.
You should remember the whole USSR nordic ski team leaving the site of the 1988 Winter Games just prior to its start for a quick trip home. Marty Hall summed it up best; “they went to get their oil changed”.
There was no test for EPO in the '90’s.
If your definition of doping is “taking something you could test positive for” then they were clean.
Like macrodosing in todays tour.
How did this zombie thread from 2013 get resurructed today. Did Lance say something on The Move about Norwegian skiers?
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Well, it seems to be a miracle that ANY ancient thread can be discovered and responded to after the forum software change! 
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