A long-term pioneer of anti-doping activities, the former Medical Director of FINCIS, Timo Seppälä, received a life-time award at the Finnish Sports Gala.
The award was handed over by the hammer thrower Olli-Pekka Karjalainen.
“Usually, Timo has been in the limelight when it’s been a case of some unfortunate doping case. However, his work is all about the reason we do anti-doping work. First and foremost, it’s the fight for fair play. Efficient anti-doping activities help to ensure that the medals end up with the athletes who really deserve them. Antti Ruuskanen and I have witnessed the importance of this work in person,” says Olli-Pekka Karjalainen, who was awarded his European Championship gold medal retrospectively.
In the reasons for the award it was stated that Seppälä has played a key role in developing the state-of-the-art Finnish anti-doping activities and doping control, which are among the best in the world. His personal contribution was key in adding doping offences to Finnish legislation. Seppälä has always been generous in sharing his expertise with athletes as well as other actors involved in sports.
“I am very touched by this award. I have always been in the limelight due to the negative side of sports, even though clean sports is a good thing. This award was made possible by athletes, coaches, the whole sporting community, doping control officers, FINADA and now FINCIS. I dedicate this award to clean sports, now and in the future,” says Timo Seppälä.
Timo Seppälä retired from the role of Medical Director at FINCIS after he suffered a serious injury in 2016. The gala was the first time Seppälä has been seen in public since his injury.
Timo Seppälä (1951)
Docent in Pharmacology, Doctor of Medical Science
National anti-doping committee, medical working group 1988–1990
Finnish Antidoping Committee, Supervisory Board Chair 1990–2002
Finnish Anti-Doping Agency FINADA, Medical Director 2002–2016
Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS), Medical Director 2016–2017
Further information:
Susanna Sokka
FINCIS Communication Manager
tel.: +358 (0)40 740 7477