Latest news with #KristofferEriksenSundal
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
FILE - Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal from Norway at the men's Ski Jumping World Cup event at the Gross-Titlis Schanze, in Engelberg, Switzerland, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Philipp Schmidli/Keystone via AP, File) By JAMES ELLINGWORTH The right suit can help send a ski jumper soaring to gold. The wrong suit will get you grounded. Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.' The ski jumping world was rocked in March by the discovery of illegally altered suits on the Norwegian team at the world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes over those changes which could help the wearer soar through the air for longer with the suit's larger surface area. In Saturday's first event of the 2025-26 season — a summer Grand Prix event on an artificial surface in France — six male ski jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues such as waist size and three more were 'not permitted to start.' Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing as the Grand Prix continued Sunday. The federation told The Associated Press in an e-mailed statement that it's treating the spate of disqualifications as the natural result of tightening up the rules after the Norwegian suit scandal. FIS race director Sandro Pertile said he doesn't think anyone was trying to cheat and that fewer disqualifications will occur as teams get used to the rules. Making specialized ski jumping equipment is 'a fairly complicated matter,' he said. 'It's perfectly normal for teams to need some time to adapt to the new situation after such comprehensive changes to the equipment regulations. Some cope with it straight away, others find it difficult at first," Pertile told the AP. 'It's also important to highlight that these disqualifications are clearly a result of technical inadequacies — there's no sign whatsoever of ill intent from the teams.' FIS indicated that a further nine men and five women didn't compete following a 'technical approval' process, though it wasn't clear if all of those cases involved their suits. Five of those 14 were on the United States team, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Among those disqualified Saturday was Norway's Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had previously been provisionally suspended earlier this year following the world championships. FIS signaled it will remain rigorous in its checks through the Olympic season but expects to find athletes wearing increasingly snug — and therefore legal — suits. 'The teams know that they have our full support, and we expect the number of disqualifications to decrease significantly in the coming weeks,' Pertile said. "With that said, we will remain strict and precise with equipment check the whole season long; there is no room for exceptions.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Norwegians charged over 'manipulation' in ski jumping's suit-cheating saga
Published Aug 11, 2025 • 2 minute read Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal from Norway at the men's Ski Jumping World Cup event at the Gross-Titlis Schanze, in Engelberg, Switzerland, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Photo by Philipp Schmidli / AP Two Olympic gold medalist ski jumpers and three staffers on the powerful Norway men's team were charged with ethics violations Monday after an investigation into alleged tampering with ski suits at the world championships. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said star ski jumpers Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang, two coaches and a member of the service staff were formally charged as part of an investigation into 'equipment manipulation' at the Nordic worlds Norway hosted in March. Illegally modified suits can help athletes fly further with more aerodynamic resistance. The allegations — backed by video footage and quick confessions by team officials — shook the tight-knit communities of ski jumping and Norwegian sports when they emerged on the final weekend in Trondheim. No timetable was given for hearings or verdicts in a case that intensifies less than six months before the next Winter Olympics open in northern Italy. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bans, fines and disqualification of results are on the slate of punishments open to the FIS Ethics Committee, the governing body said in a statement. Lindvik's gold medal in the men's normal hill event at the worlds held in Trondheim, plus Norway's bronze in the men's team event on the large hill are clearly at risk. FIS said the investigation conducted 38 witness interviews and examined 88 pieces of evidence, and that no one else will be charged in the case. Lindvik and Forfang, who both were in the team that took bronze, denied involvement in March though were disqualified from the individual large hill event and suspended by FIS for the rest of the season. Their charges were signed off by the FIS ruling council, the governing body said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The 27-year-old Lindvik has been expected to defend his Olympic title next year in the men's large hill event at the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Games. Forfang, now 30, took team gold on the large hill and individual silver on the normal hill at the 2018 Olympics held in South Korea. Admissions of guilt were made in March by head coach Magnus Brevik and equipment manager Adrian Livelten, who said suits were altered only before the men's large hill event. 'We regret it like dogs, and I'm terribly sorry that this happened,' Brevik said at the time. A third team staffer, Thomas Lobben, also is now charged. The manipulation was to increase the size of suits pre-approved and microchipped by FIS, and was captured on secretly filmed footage. It led to formal protests from the Austria, Slovenia and Poland teams. The alterations could be confirmed only by tearing apart the seams of the crotch area on the Norwegian ski suits. The case will be judged by three members of the ethics panel which must reach verdicts 'no later than 30 days after the hearing process is concluded,' FIS said. FIS has already tightened up its rules on ski jump suits, something which caused a spate of disqualifications when athletes gathered for the first competition of the new season Saturday. FIS said that was down to technical issues and it didn't suspect 'ill intent.' Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Ontario
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 more Norwegian ski jumpers suspended in cheating scandal
(NewsNation) — A cheating scandal is rocking the ski jumping world. Five members of the Norwegian ski jumping team, along with a coach and an equipment manager, have been suspended. They're all accused of manipulating ski jumping suits to gain an unfair advantage. A video leaked to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation shows the illegal alterations being made. 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. Ben Mezzenga: 'I'm over' the 'Love is Blind' heartbreak They follow the suspension 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. A ski jumper's suit is preapproved down to the smallest detail. The team, however, is accused of adding extra material to a seam in the crotch area, increasing the surface area and allowing its athletes to glide further through the air. Ski jumping has seen this before, though. Three years ago, a women's team was accused of wearing suits that were too big. There are strict uniform guidelines, and the suits are measured and checked to make sure all athletes are jumping on an even playing field. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is now investigating. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
13-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Three more ski jumpers suspended as cheating scandal engulfs sport
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. 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.
Washington Post
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
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 ___ AP sports:
