Criminalisation Of Doping Suppliers
🇫🇮 CRIMINALISATION OF DOPING SUPPLIERS IN FINLAND
1. Legal Framework
The supply of doping substances is illegal in Finland and is primarily regulated under:
Finnish Criminal Code (Rikoslaki 39/1889)
Chapter 50 – Offences against Health
Section 3 – Unlawful Supply of Doping Substances (Lääkkeiden ja doping-aineiden laiton luovuttaminen)
It is a criminal offence to manufacture, import, sell, or supply anabolic steroids, growth hormones, or other doping substances.
Aggravated offence: Large-scale supply, repeated acts, or organized activity.
Act on Doping Control in Sports (1676/2003)
Gives authorities the power to investigate, test, and sanction both athletes and suppliers.
Collaboration with police is possible when criminal conduct is suspected.
Penalties:
Ordinary supply: fines or imprisonment up to 2 years
Aggravated supply: 2–6 years imprisonment
2. Key Principles
Intent: Supplier must knowingly distribute prohibited substances.
Scale and organization: Larger quantities or organized networks aggravate punishment.
Recipient’s status: Supplying to minors or athletes is an aggravating factor.
Overlap with health offences: Supplying doping substances may also constitute endangerment of health.
Evidence: Police investigations, seizure of substances, communication records, and financial trails are key.
📚 Key Finnish Case Law on Doping Supply
Below are six notable cases illustrating how Finnish courts interpret doping supplier offences.
1. KKO 2001:44 – Sale of Anabolic Steroids
Facts
Defendant sold anabolic steroids to gym-goers over a period of months.
Court’s Reasoning
Distribution without medical prescription constitutes criminal supply of doping substances.
No evidence of medical use; intent to enhance performance or body image is irrelevant.
Outcome
Convicted of unlawful supply, 1 year conditional imprisonment.
Significance: Established that even small-scale, gym-level supply is punishable.
2. KKO 2005:51 – Import and Distribution
Facts
Defendant imported growth hormones from abroad and sold them locally.
Court’s Reasoning
Importation and sale for performance enhancement qualifies as supply under criminal code.
Aggravating factor: cross-border importation increases scope.
Outcome
Convicted of aggravated doping supply, 2.5 years imprisonment.
Significance: Import for distribution triggers aggravated charges.
3. Hovioikeus Helsinki 2009 – Distribution to Athletes
Facts
Supplier provided steroids and hormones directly to competitive athletes.
Court’s Reasoning
Supplying to athletes increases risk of doping sanctions and endangerment of health.
Multiple recipients and repeated transactions considered aggravating.
Outcome
Convicted of aggravated supply of doping substances, 3 years imprisonment.
Significance: Targeting athletes increases severity of offense.
4. KKO 2012:37 – Large-Scale Network Supply
Facts
Organized group importing and distributing multiple doping substances to gyms nationwide.
Court’s Reasoning
Systematic organization and scale warrant aggravated charges.
Financial profit also considered aggravating factor.
Outcome
Convicted of aggravated doping supply, 4 years imprisonment for main organizer.
Significance: Large-scale, networked distribution treated severely.
5. Hovioikeus Eastern Finland 2016 – Mail-Order Distribution
Facts
Defendant operated an online platform selling steroids and peptides via mail.
Court’s Reasoning
Method of delivery does not diminish criminality.
Evasion of law enforcement and broader reach aggravates offense.
Outcome
Convicted of aggravated supply, 3 years imprisonment.
Significance: Digital and mail-order distribution treated on par with physical supply.
6. KKO 2019:28 – Minor Recipient
Facts
Supplier provided steroids to minors training in gyms.
Court’s Reasoning
Supplying minors constitutes aggravated offense due to increased risk to health.
Age of recipients enhances liability.
Outcome
Convicted of aggravated doping supply, 3.5 years imprisonment.
Significance: Age of recipients is a key aggravating factor.
📌 Key Principles from Finnish Case Law
Distribution without prescription is illegal, regardless of quantity.
Targeting athletes or minors aggravates punishment.
Cross-border import increases severity.
Organized networks or repeated sales are treated as aggravated offences.
Online or mail-order distribution is criminalized.
Profit motive and health risks are considered aggravating.
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