Two Olympic gold medal-winning ski jumpers and three staff members from Norway’s top men’s team have been charged with ethics violations following an investigation into tampering with ski suits at the world championships.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) revealed that star athletes Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, along with two coaches and a service staff member, face formal charges related to “equipment manipulation” during the Nordic World Ski Championships held in Norway this past March.
Altering ski suits illegally can enhance an athlete’s performance by improving aerodynamics, allowing for longer jumps. The allegations, supported by video evidence and admissions from team officials, caused shockwaves in the close-knit ski jumping community and Norwegian sports as they surfaced during the final weekend in Trondheim.
There is no set timeline yet for hearings or decisions in the case, which comes less than six months before the Winter Olympics begin in northern Italy.
Potential penalties include bans, fines, and disqualification of results, according to the FIS Ethics Committee. Lindvik’s gold medal in the men’s normal hill event and Norway’s bronze in the men’s team large hill competition are at risk of being revoked.
The investigation involved 38 witness interviews and review of 88 pieces of evidence, with no additional individuals expected to be charged.
Both Lindvik and Forfang, who were part of the bronze-winning team, have denied involvement, although they were disqualified from the individual large hill event and suspended for the rest of the season. The charges were approved by the FIS ruling council.
Lindvik, 27, was anticipated to defend his Olympic title in the men’s large hill at next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Forfang, now 30, won team gold on the large hill and individual silver on the normal hill at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.
Confessions came from head coach Magnus Brevik and equipment manager Adrian Livelten in March, admitting that suit alterations occurred before the men’s large hill event. Both expressed deep regret for the incident. Another staff member, Thomas Lobben, has also been charged.
The tampering involved enlarging the suits beyond the size approved and microchipped by FIS, a violation caught on hidden camera footage. This led to formal complaints from Austria, Slovenia, and Poland.
The illegal modifications could only be verified by cutting open the seams around the suit’s crotch area.
Three ethics panel members will hear the case and must deliver verdicts within 30 days after concluding the hearings.
In response, FIS has tightened ski suit regulations, which contributed to numerous disqualifications during the first event of the current season. However, the federation noted these recent issues appeared to be technical rather than intentional violations.
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