On Tuesday 7 December 2021, the Minister of Culture Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen presented the ministry’s award for research, The Julius Bomholt Prize, to Associate Professor Ask Vest Christiansen from the Department of Public Health. He receives the award for his research into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in gym culture.

2021.12.08 | Sabina Bjerre Hansen

Minister of Culture Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen presented the award to Ask Vest Christiansen at an event at Aarhus University, at which the recipient’s colleagues and collaborative partners were also present. Photo: Marjun Danielsen, AU Photo.

Associate professor and Head of Section Ask Vest Christiansen conducts research into doping, both in elite sport and among recreational athletes, and he is considered one of the leading researchers in his field – nationally and internationally. One particular area of focus in his research is the use of anabolic steroids in gym environments, and this has led him to study the motives, values and ideas which lead young men in particular to use performance-enhancing drugs.

Minister of Culture Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen hopes that Ask Vest Christiansen's research, which he presents in the book Gym Culture, Identity and Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Tracing a Typology of Steroid Use (2020), will provide inspiration and tools to prevent the use of doping in gym and training environments. He is therefore being honoured with the Julius Bomholt Prize.

Find out more about Ask Vest Christiansen's research in the Danish article ”Drop fordommene om den hårdtpumpede rocker: Disse typer bruger steroider” at Videnskab.dk, where he also discusses the topic with Journalist Jeppe Øvig in a podcast.

Facts about the prize

The Julius Bomholt Prize is the Ministry of Culture's research award for the recognition and celebration of outstanding research initiatives within the Ministry of Culture's area of responsibility. It is awarded annually for a book or collection of articles published within the past three years which demonstrate innovative research.

It is named after Denmark's first Minister of Culture, Julius Bomholt, and comes with a medal in bronze created by sculptor Morten Stræde.

Contact

Associate Professor and Head of Section Ask Vest Christiansen
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Mobile: (+45) 2778 2833
Email: avc@ph.au.dk