The International Ski and Snowboard Federation's (FIS) ethics committee has issued 18-month suspensions to two Norwegian ski jumping coaches and a team suit technician for manipulating competition suits. The decision follows an investigation into alterations made during last year's Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway. In response to the incident, FIS has also revised its uniform regulations and introduced enhanced oversight measures to prevent future rule violations.
Investigation and Suspensions
Head coach Magnus Brevig, assistant head coach Thomas Lobben, and suit technician Adrian Livelten received 18-month suspensions, backdated to March of the previous year. The suspensions followed an 11-month investigation and litigation process. The committee's ruling aimed to establish clear boundaries for acceptable conduct within the sport.
The manipulation involved inserting non-elastic stitching into the crotch area of suits belonging to jumpers Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang. This occurred after the suits had passed initial inspection. The alterations were intended to make the suits more aerodynamic, potentially allowing jumpers to achieve greater distances. A whistleblower's video, anonymously posted online, reportedly showed Brevig and Livelten performing these modifications. The alterations were detected upon subsequent seam examination after the competition.
Athlete Involvement and Consequences
Both Marius Lindvik, an Olympic large hill ski jump gold medalist, and Johann André Forfang, were handed three-month suspensions, which they served during the summer. Lindvik also lost a world championship silver medal as a result of the incident. The athletes stated they were unaware of the suit manipulation.
Following the revelations, Norway dismissed its men’s team leadership, including the suspended coaches.
Technical Aspects and Impact of Manipulation
Research published in October in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living indicates that an additional centimeter (0.4 inches) of fabric in a suit's circumference could extend a jump by 2.8 meters (9.2 feet). Other studies suggested that one to two centimeters of extra material in the crotch area, particularly when stretched by the V-position of the legs, could add five to six meters to a jump. Stiff, smooth materials are also understood to reduce drag. Current rules restrict suit size to no more than four centimeters larger than an athlete's body surface area.
Arguments and Justifications
The suspended coaches and technician acknowledged their actions but argued that their conduct was consistent with a culture of pushing rule boundaries in ski jumping. They cited instances where previous equipment violations had resulted in lighter penalties or had been overlooked by FIS. Pål Kleven, a lawyer for coach Brevig, argued that the severity of the penalty was disproportionate, criticizing FIS for an "unclear regulatory framework" and "inconsistent and often lenient" enforcement in the past.
The FIS ethics committee rejected these arguments, stating that the admitted violations, supported by video evidence, justified the sanctions. The committee determined that the manipulation constituted a serious violation that compromised "the core principles of sporting competition, namely fairness, equal conditions and compliance with the rules." A confidential report reviewed by FIS described the efforts as "unprecedented and far beyond previous equipment manipulation schemes." FIS officials also drew comparisons between the suit manipulation and doping, characterizing it as "equipment doping," and stated that the 18-month suspension was "relatively lenient" compared to typical anti-doping bans. The ethics committee largely concurred with this comparison.
New Regulations and Oversight
In response to the incident, FIS has implemented several stricter uniform regulations and oversight measures:
- Equipment Coordination: A coordinator for gear screening, former Austrian ski jumper Mathias Hafele, has been appointed as an equipment expert.
- Enhanced Inspections: Before events, two FIS controllers and a doctor will utilize enhanced 3D measurements to inspect athletes' uniforms.
- Suit Design: New suit designs aim to prevent tampering with arm and leg cuffs and alterations to the crotch area for increased surface area.
- Tamper-Proof Microchips: After initial approval, tamper-proof microchips are affixed to suits. These chips are verified by scanners before and after jumps to detect any manipulation.
- Increased Scrutiny: FIS has hired more equipment controllers, improved training, added checkpoints, and limited the number of suits athletes can use.
- New Penalty System: A new system, similar to soccer, has been introduced. An equipment violation will result in a yellow card. A subsequent violation will lead to a red card, disqualifying the athlete from the next event, and the team losing a skier slot in the competition.
Financial Penalties and Appeals
Each suspended coach was ordered to pay 5,000 Swiss francs (approximately $6,200 U.S.) towards the proceedings' cost. They have 21 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Norway's Response
Former Norwegian team ski jumper Rune Velta assumed the role of head coach in June, tasked with rebuilding the team's reputation. Norway is reportedly under increased scrutiny this season, with the team focusing on adapting to the new suit dimensions during the summer ski jumping season.