Traces of a banned substance were found in eight football players.

THU, 27 NOV, 2025 
by NICK AMES

The Norwegian club Vålerenga have called for anti-doping regulations to be strengthened after an extraordinary case in which a player from their women’s team was found to have ingested a banned stimulant from rubber crumb in an artificial pitch.
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A seven-month saga concluded on Wednesday when the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) chose not to appeal against the decision of Anti-Doping Norway (Adno) that the player was faultless. But the landmark case has highlighted the risks to footballers of environmental exposure to banned substances and opened up the possibility of further controversies emerging around the thousands of synthetic pitches across Europe.

BY LIBBY PALANZA NOVEMBER 5, 2025

South Portland residents voted Tuesday to approve a natural grass field for their high school’s athletic complex by a decisive margin of 54 percent in favor to 46 percent opposed.

In parallel, a resounding 73 percent opposed the alternative of an artificial turf field which only 23 percent supported.

Unlike last year’s substantially more costly proposal, voters had the choice between a $4.6 million natural grass field and a $5.5 million synthetic turf field. Both projects included a new track, new lighting and permanent bathrooms.
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Voters were able to cast their ballots in support of one, both, or neither of these options.

Read the full article published in the Maine Wire