Yes, you’ve read that correctly: the best bridge player in the world has copped a one-year ban from the game for doping. This is in our sport section because to me it is a sport story.
Norwegian player Geir Helgemo, who ranks first among the Open World Grand Masters – just ahead of his frequent partner Tor Helness – copped a suspension from the World Bridge Federation after testing positive for synthetic testosterone and clomifene.
Here’s an extract from the WBF’s official finding:
On 29th September 2018, Geir Helgemo provided a sample that was sent for laboratory testing; the results identified an Adverse Analytical Finding with the presence of Clomifene and synthetic Testosterone that constituted an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as specified within the World Bridge Federation Anti-Doping Rules.
So, uh, is doping a huge problem in bridge – such that they need to be testing for substances all the time? Well, not necessarily. Because the WBF is a member of the International Olympic Committee, it is bound by the anti-doping regulations of that organisation.
That means all prohibited substances are out, even if they don’t have an obvious benefit to a bridge player.
The WBA says that Helgemo accepted the judgement and “provided details of how the prohibited substances may have come to be present in his system.”
There’s a lesson in this. Performance-enhancing drugs are always bad. Or maybe the lesson is that if you pump yourself up on synthetic testosterone before hitting up your local Rotary Club’s bridge night you can win big. I don’t know – it’s definitely one of those two lessons though.
Given Helgelmo had already accepted a provisional suspension, he’s already served part of his year-long ban from the game. He’s eligible to play again in November, if you’re absolutely hanging out for his valiant return.
