September 12, 2014 (Trondheim, Norway) – Disgraced Norwegian ski star Petter Northug may have received special treatment from police earlier this year reports News in English, Norway. This information is also included in a new book about Northug called “Northug – a family history”, written by author Sverre M. Nyrønning.

Petter Northug (NOR) © Nordic Focus

Northug crashed an Audi A7 on May 4 while driving under the influence of alcohol and then left the scene of the accident – read more here. A passenger in the car with him broke his collarbone in the incident. Apparently in a very uncharacteristic manner, police treated Northug kindly after his arrest. He was put in a “glattcelle,” the Norwegian version of a drunk tank, but then given “a good mattress,” and a warm blanket. The skier went so far as to say that he “didn’t feel at all incarcerated, and the police on duty were very nice to me.” Northug apparently also described his glattcelle experience as “pleasant.”

Police also helped smuggle him out of the police station in Trondheim, to avoid the scrum of reporters standing outside. Northug was driven from the station, concealed in a police car, and later taken to the summer cottage of one of Northug’s supporters in Åre, over the border in Sweden.

Petter Northug (NOR) © Nordic Focus

Norway has some of the most severe penalties for drunk driving in the world. Northug has now revealed that he tested at a blood alcohol reading of 1.65 when apprehended by police. Norwegian law is very strict regarding those driving under the influence and stipulates a minimum one-year jail sentence for readings over 1.5, something that would disrupt and perhaps destroy Northug’s skiing career. Speculation is that special allowance will be made for one of Norway’s skiing stars.

Northug, 28, has skied professionally since 2005, winning 18 medals at various World Cup events (11 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze), putting him in a class of his own. He also won four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. According to other media reports in Norway, Northug is now preparing for a comeback, focusing on winning the Tour de Ski.

Read more here.