Three more Norwegian ski jumpers suspended in cheating scandal
Three more Norwegian ski jumpers were suspended on Thursday in a widening cheating scandal that has shocked the sport.
World championships medalists Robin Pederson and Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal were provisionally suspended along with Robert Johansson over suspicion of illegal manipulation of jump suits, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation said.
They follow the suspensions on Wednesday of Olympic gold medalists Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang in a scandal that came to light after Norway team officials manipulated suits to improve aerodynamics and help athletes fly farther.
FIS said it was asked to seize all jump suits used by Norway at the world championships in Trondheim last week and found no irregularities in those used by women's or combined men's and women's teams.
But it said findings that 'raised additional suspicions of manipulation' led to the suspensions of Pederson, Sundal and Johansson, who will not be able to take part in any events organized by FIS or national ski associations.
'The rules are quite clear. The rules are made by all the ski family,' FIS secretary general Michel Vion told a news conference in Oslo where a World Cup event started on Thursday. 'We know exactly the situation and I heard (it said) that, 'Yeah, but ski jumping is special. They (are always) on the limit, we can play ...'
'No, there's no play. There's no game here. It's only rules.'
It is not known how widespread the practice of manipulating pre-approved suits is within ski jumping.
Lindvik and Forfang said they knew nothing about deliberately altered equipment, but their coach Magnus Brevig and equipment manager Adrian Livelten confessed and were stood down from their jobs.
The investigation will be made by the FIS independent ethics and compliance office.
'We are all aware that this is not the best moment for ski jumping, but I think this is the way that we want to go,' FIS race director of ski jumping Sandro Pertile said. 'In this case we have, we are into an intentional manipulation.
'We cannot communicate all the details but I think that we are on a good way to clarify the topic.'
FIS said all suits would be checked at the event in Oslo.
___
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Italy earns much-needed win in World Cup qualifying in parting gift for Spalletti
With a parting gift for Luciano Spalletti, Italy beat Moldova 2-0 on Monday for its first points in the beleaguered national team's attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Spalletti was informed ahead of the game in Reggio Emilia that he would be losing his job as Italy coach in the wake of the team's 3-0 loss in Norway last week, which marked a dreadful way to begin its qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. Goals by Giacomo Raspadiro and Andrea Cambiaso meant Spalletti at least departed with a victory. Yet the Azzurri remained in a perilous position in Group I, with Norway beating Estonia 1-0 — thanks to Erling Haaland's 62nd-minute goal — to make it four wins from four halfway through qualifying. Italy stayed nine points behind Norway — albeit having played two fewer matches — and might have missed a good chance to rack up some goals to boost its goal difference. Only the top team from each of the 12 groups qualifies automatically for next year's expanded 48-team tournament in North America. The runners-up go into the playoffs — the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia to miss out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively, in a humiliation for one of Europe's traditional powers. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox calling up top prospect Roman Anthony two days after 497-foot grand slam in minors
The press box is decorated with championship penants at Fenway Park, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox are calling up top prospect Roman Anthony two days after the 21-year-old outfielder hit a 497-foot grand slam for Triple-A Worcester. Anthony will make his major league debut Monday night at home against Tampa Bay, batting fifth and playing right field, manager Alex Cora said. Advertisement A second-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, Anthony is batting .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games this season. The second grand slam of the season for Anthony put Worchester ahead 9-4 in the eighth inning. He drove a 91.1 mph sinker from Carlos Romero deep over the right-center field wall, a drive that left his bat at 115.6 mph. Anthony hit the longest home run measured this year by Statcast, which this season tracks the major leagues, Triple-A and the Class A Florida State League. Since Statcast started tracking in the major leagues in 2015, only Nomar Mazara (505 feet in 2019), Giancarlo Stanton (504 feet in 2016), C.J. Cron (504 feet in 2022) and Christian Yelich (499 feet in 2022) have hit longer big league homers. ___ AP MLB:
Hamilton Spectator
27 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Guardiola picks up another honor in Manchester. This one is from its university
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Manchester on Monday to recognize his contribution on and off the field since joining the club in 2016. Guardiola was presented with an honorary doctorate by the university's chancellor at a ceremony to honor his success with City, including leading the team to six Premier League titles and the Champions League, and in the community, notably through his Guardiola Sala Foundation. 'I have spent nine years here and it has become home,' Guardiola said. 'The people, the culture, my incredible football club, my colleagues … it is all so special to me and my family. 'When I arrived here in 2016, I did not know how long I would spend here. The way this city embraced me made everything easy. My time here has been beautiful.' Professor Duncan Ivison, who is the university's president and vice chancellor, described Guardiola as an 'innovator and a winner who has inspired millions of people through his success as a manager.' 'He has played a huge role in making Manchester a global success story,' he said, 'and we are honored that he has chosen to accept this degree. I hope that this forges another important connection between him, the University of Manchester, and the city.' ___ AP soccer:
