Norway's two-time Olympic gold medallist Petter Northug has admitted that police found cocaine in his house following a traffic incident ©Getty Images

Norway's Olympic cross-country gold medallist Petter Northug has apologised after police found cocaine in the home.

Northug, winner of the 50 kilometres classical and the team sprint at Vancouver 2010, was stopped for speeding and suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.

The retired 34-year-old was on his way home from Trysil Summer Ski School on Thursday (August 13) when he was caught driving at 168 kilometres per hour on the E6, Norway's main highway between Oslo and Northug's home in Trondheim in his Jaguar F-Type.

The speed limit is 110kph.

Police suspected he had been driving under the influence of drugs so took blood samples. 

Later, Northug's home was searched. 

Cocaine was found there and seized.


It was Northug himself who admitted the offence on his Instagram account.

He wrote: "I have made a huge mistake. 

"Last night I was stopped by the police for speeding. 

"I drove too fast, and was also taken to the emergency room for a blood test. 

"In addition, the police found a small amount of drugs in my home. 

"It's cocaine. 

"I am desperate and afraid of what the future will bring, and incredibly sorry for all those I have now disappointed, again. 

"I know it's going to be a criminal case now. 

"Then I will take responsibility for what I have done."

Norwegian police confirmed the case on its own Twitter account this morning. 

Police declined to give details besides confirming "that he [Northug] has driven too fast and that there is a suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs".

Norway's Petter Northug celebrates winning one of his two Olympic gold medals at Vancouver 2010 but has been involved in controversy since then, including spending 50 days in jail for a traffic offence ©Getty Images
Norway's Petter Northug celebrates winning one of his two Olympic gold medals at Vancouver 2010 but has been involved in controversy since then, including spending 50 days in jail for a traffic offence ©Getty Images

Besides winning four Olympic medals, including a silver in the 4x10 kilometres relay and bronze in the individual sprint at Vancouver 2010, Northug also won 13 World Championship titles.

This is not the first time he has been involved in a driving-related incident.

In 2014, Northug crashed his car in Trondheim and fled the scene.

He was later convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, serving 50 days in jail and losing his licence for five years.