‘I didn’t feel like a drug cheat’: Anti-doping ban forced Matildas star out of Olympics

Matildas veteran Aivi Luik dropped out of contention for selection for the Paris Olympics because of a three-month suspension imposed by Italy’s anti-doping body despite not having undergone a drug test, it has been revealed.

The penalty related to a pain-killing injection Luik was administered for a back injury on March 29, 2022 when she was playing for Italian club Pomigliano. The injection contained a substance banned “in competition” by the World Anti-Doping Code – which in football means it is prohibited if it is given on the day of a match. She was told by the doctor and a specialist that it was permitted.

Aivi Luik is fighting a three-month doping ban.Credit: Getty

However, the club reportedly made an error when it applied to Nado Italia, the country’s anti-doping authority, for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) certificate. Luik was then an unused substitute for a match played three days after receiving the injection.

She came off the bench in another match on April 16, but on the morning of their following match, she was told by club staffers she’d been stood down for two months, and missed their remaining three matches of the season.

Journalist Tracey Holmes aired the revelations on her Patreon podcast, The Sports Ambassador, as well as through a report in Guardian Australia.

“They told me that the TUE, the paperwork had been denied, and that I couldn’t play for two months. And so of course, in my head, I’m freaking out,” Luik said on the podcast.

Aivi Luik in action for BK Hacken in the UEFA Champions League in March this year - just before she learned of her doping ban.Credit: Getty

“‘What does this mean? What could it mean? Have I done something wrong?’ The substance that was used was fine to be used out of competition – which means, basically anytime except for game day. And this was done four days before my game.

“They later kind of clarified that I couldn’t play because of the fact that there’s a washout period for this substance, which is 60 days, and that’s the two months suspension. So I later came to understand that what they had told me was the suspension was actually just them saying, ‘OK, this is the washout period. You can’t play now.’ I didn’t feel, I guess, back then, per se … [like] a drug cheat.”

Football Australia said it was aware of the investigation into Luik. “As with all our national team players, we are committed to providing full support, including access to wellbeing and counselling services,” a spokesperson said.

Luik’s contract with Pomigliano expired at the end of the 2021-22 season. She then moved to Swedish club BK Häcken FF, was part of the Matildas’ squad for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and had assumed the situation had eased until she found out about the charges via email on April 24 of this year. She was unable to have the ban overturned and subsequently pulled out of selection contention for the recent Olympics, and is now considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I was terrified at the thought of this affecting the team, because we had a really great chance going into that tournament to do well and to medal finally … [if] this comes out during the Olympic tournament, and what that would do for the girls and the team in general,” she said. “I had to call up Tony [Gustavsson] and pull my name from the selection, and I don’t know whether I would have made it or not. I think the hardest thing to take was just the fact that the chance was kind of robbed in that way.”

Nado Italia handed down a three-month suspension because it ruled there was a performance-enhancing risk in the injection Luik was given. She still has around two months of the ban to serve.

“There was no test to say that I was positive, yet they’re saying that it had a performance-enhancing effect. So how can you say that?” she said. “They stated that I didn’t intend to commit the violation, and they found that I had a very slight amount of negligence, and because of strict liability, they gave me the three months.”

Luik is keen to take her case to CAS but is weighing up the financial and mental cost of doing so.

“I know the people that know me know that I would never intentionally cheat or commit an anti-doping law violation,” she said. “[I want] my story to serve as a warning to other athletes out there … especially those who are overseas and who might find themselves in a similar situation to what I found myself in, I would just hope that maybe they can hear my story and it can help protect them.”

Professional Footballers Australia, the players’ union, released a statement on Thursday morning declaring their support for Luik.

“Aivi’s case further highlights the need to establish an anti-doping system that respects the fundamental rights of athletes and is effective in pursuing its stated objectives,” said co-chief executives Beau Busch and Kate Gill. “In speaking out Aivi has again demonstrated the courage and character she has always shown on and off the pitch.”