Tribute to Finn Mikkelsen

It is with great sadness to report that Finn Mikkelsen, Chair of the BWF Doping Review Panel since 2010, passed away suddenly on Sunday 27 September at the age of 66.

Finn Mikkelsen was well known for the fight for clean sport. Finn contributed greatly to the BWF Anti-Doping Programme since 2010 both as Chair of the Panel and as an external expert and adviser to the BWF. We very much appreciated his time with us, his advice and support of the programme.

Finn is very well known in the anti-doping community as well as the badminton community in Denmark in particular, through both his research in badminton and performance training / coaching and his work with Anti-Doping Denmark.

Finn was the former Executive Director of Anti-Doping Denmark (2004 – 2010) and had been involved in anti-doping for more than 20 years before his retirement from Anti-Doping Denmark.

Finn was the Head of Section, Research, Anti-Doping and Physiological Testing at Team Denmark (1999 – 2004) and a consultant to the Danish Elite Sports Institute (Team Denmark) (1986 – 1999).

After graduation from the University of Copenhagen, Finn undertook research on the physical demands and muscle adaptation in elite sport (badminton, cycling, handball and tennis) with a focus on peak performance.

BWF very much appreciates and acknowledges Finn’s significant contribution to its anti-doping programme and his continuous availability to provide advice as an expert volunteer on our panels.

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Tribute to Finn Mikkelsen
Reprinted Translation – Danish NOC and Sports Confederation Website

(Linked here)

Finn Mikkelsen has over the years been a talented and important player in the Danish sports. First, through his work with Team Denmark and afterwards as head of secretariat of Anti Doping Denmark.

He was a pioneer in the anti-doping area and it is greatly to his credit that the Anti Doping Denmark short years went from being a pilot scheme to be an indispensable institution in the world of sport. His work and skills reached beyond Denmark’s borders, which were sent for his expertise on the major international sports organizations.

Finn Mikkelsen’s interest in anti-doping was closely linked to his great joy for the sport. He cultivated for many years his interest in football in Academic Boldklub, but after a few hip surgery he switched to golf. And that was while he cultivated golf at Club La Santa, he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Finn Mikkelsen will be missed in Danish sports.