IOC reacts to the birth control patches Susanne Glesnes (right) and Kathrine
Maaseide have been using during the Olympics. Now the beach volleyball duo
has to manage without.
Foto: Anders Wiklund / SCANPIX
It was revealed Monday that Glesnes and Maaseide are sponsored by the
producer of the birth control patch. The women had placed their patches very
visible on their shoulders, and it has been noted.
After being informed of the issue, Gerhard Heiberg, board member in the IOC,
reacted because according to the rules in the Olympics, it is illegal to
advertise for products during the Olympics games.
«This is a problem in both sand volleyball and in volleyball, and we have to
stop it,» Heiberg said to ANB. «There is a strict ban on this.»
Glesnes and Maaseide decided to remove the patches after having heard
Heiberg’s reaction.
«We have removed them, and we do not wish to comment the case further,»
Masseide said.
Jarle Aambø, acting top Norwegian athletic leader, said that he thinks the
case has been over dramatized and claims that it should be okay to use the
birth control patch.
«We have checked this and established that the birth control patch is
considered a personal item and therefore perfectly legal,» Aambø said.
bil/caravan
