Javelin thrower's pine tar confiscated at Helsinki airport en route to European Championships

Finnish javelin thrower Eemil Porvari encountered a surprising and frustrating obstacle on his journey to the European Championships in Birmingham when his pine tar was confiscated at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The 23-year-old athlete reported the incident on Instagram, sharing a notice from Finavia, the airport operator, stating that his two bottles of pine tar were removed during security screening.

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In the past, pine tar has gone through. Now, there was just bad luck.

According to the document provided by Finavia, the pine tar was classified as a substance that could compromise flight safety. This decision led to the confiscation of the essential item for Porvari's performance. Javelin coach Tuomas Laaksonen described the confiscation as unusual, noting that pine tar products have typically passed through security checks without issue in the past.

Laaksonen suggested that Porvari simply had "bad luck" on this occasion. Adding to the peculiar situation, another member of the Finnish team, Topi Parviainen, managed to bring his pine tar through security without incident. Despite this, Laaksonen assured that the team has sufficient pine tar, acknowledging its importance for athletes, especially those accustomed to using it for grip.

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It's essential that equipment is present when coming to competitions like these.

Pine tar is a critical element in javelin throwing, applied to the hands to enhance grip on the javelin's corded handle, preventing slippage. It is a common aid, used by some athletes alongside magnesium. Porvari's confiscated product was a spray-on version, similar to the one Parviainen successfully transported. The javelin qualification rounds are scheduled for Thursday, with the finals on Saturday.

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It's an essential part of throwing to have some grip – especially when you're used to it. Some use magnesium, and some use pine tar.