Norway ski jumper retires amid probe into teammates' alleged suit cheating
OSLO, Norway — Former Olympic champion ski jumper Robert Johansson announced he is retiring on Tuesday while an investigation continues into alleged cheating by his teammates at the world championships.
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The 35-year-old Johansson, who sports a distinctive red mustache, was not initially under suspicion when the scandal around the Norway team altering competition suits emerged at their home Nordic worlds.
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The 2018 Olympics team event gold medalist was then suspended along with other Norwegians by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) from taking part in season-ending events.
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Johansson told broadcaster TV2 in an interview aired on Tuesday, 'I feel like I've been suspended because I'm Norwegian.'
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He said the case denied him the chance to compete in his planned farewell events in March.
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Norwegian athletes have not talked publicly about the FIS investigation, though TV2 said Johansson's suit was checked and cleared before, during and after the worlds held in Trondheim.
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Johansson was a three-time winner in World Cup events who had a career-best year in the 2018 Olympics season.
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