Denmark’s mixed doubles player, Mathias Christiansen, has been handed a one-year suspension by the Danish Sports Federation’s Doping Board. The ban comes after Christiansen failed to properly report his ‘whereabouts’ to Anti-Doping Denmark, a requirement for all athletes to declare their location for random testing.
Thomas Cup winner in 2016
Mathias Christiansen has made important contributions to Danish badminton, particularly as a member of the national men’s team. His achievements include winning a gold medal at the Thomas Cup in 2016, held in Kunshan, where he played a crucial role in confirming Denmark’s first-place finish. Additionally, Christiansen has been part of the Danish Team consistently by helping the team win bronze medals in successive editions of the tournament, finishing third in Bangkok in 2018, Aarhus in 2020, and again in Bangkok in 2022.
Missed the Paris 2024 Olympics
Christiansen, who had already withdrawn from the Paris 2024 Olympics where he was set to compete with partner Alexandra Bøje, will be suspended until 21 July 2025. His suspension was triggered after three reporting errors within a year, as mandated by anti-doping regulations.
Christiansen Responds to the Ban
In his statement to BWF, Christiansen expressed relief over the verdict, noting that he was given the “smallest possible quarantine” and reaffirming that he had no intention of cheating. He said his focus now is on training hard to return stronger once the ban ends.
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Continues private training
During his suspension, Christiansen has been training privately at the Yonex Peter Gade Academy to stay in shape. Badminton Denmark’s sports manager, Jens Meibom, acknowledged the loss of Christiansen at training but affirmed their support and readiness to welcome him back after the ban.
Badminton Denmark’s support for Christiansen
Jens Meibom expressed disappointment over losing Christiansen for next year but respected the decision. He added that Christiansen remains committed to training and will be welcomed back to national team training once the ban concludes.