Norwegian Olympic gold medalists Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang have accepted three-month suspensions for their involvement in tampering with ski suits during a competition in March, the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced on Saturday.
Lindvik, Forfang, two coaches, and a service staff member were charged this month with equipment manipulation at the men’s large hill event during the World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway. An FIS investigation found that the suits had been altered to increase surface area, potentially helping the wearers stay airborne longer.
Lindvik, who originally finished second, and Forfang, who came fourth, were both disqualified following an equipment check. The Norwegian Ski Federation later admitted the team had manipulated the suits but claimed the athletes were not responsible for the violations.
The FIS Ethics Commission stated that Lindvik and Forfang acknowledged breaking competition rules and agreed they should have questioned the adjustments to their suits. Both accepted a three-month suspension, with credit given for time already served under provisional suspension. They also each agreed to pay a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately £1,800).
Their lawyers noted that the incident highlights the need for better communication between athletes and support staff regarding equipment to prevent similar issues in the future.
The suspensions will end well before next year’s Milano-Cortina Olympics, where Lindvik aims to defend his large hill title. Forfang won team gold in the large hill and individual silver in the normal hill at the 2018 Olympics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Norwegian ski jumpers suit tampering bans written in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What happened with the Norwegian ski jumpers
Several members of the Norwegian mens ski jumping team were caught illegally modifying their competition suits to gain an aerodynamic advantage They accepted bans from the International Ski Federation
2 Who was involved
The athletes involved were top jumpers including former Olympic champion DanielAndré Tande and several of his teammates
3 What does tampering with their suits mean
It means they altered their jump suits to be tighter and more formfitting than the strict regulations allow This reduces air resistance allowing them to jump slightly farther
4 Why is that against the rules
Ski jumping rules have very specific measurements for suits to ensure a fair competition where skill not equipment manipulation determines the winner Tight suits act like a wing providing an unfair aerodynamic boost
5 What was the punishment
The athletes received competition bans for a period of time The length of the ban varies but it typically means they were suspended from several World Cup events
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 How were they caught
Officials from the International Ski Federation perform routine suit checks before competitions They measure the suits porosity and its fit on the athletes body The Norwegian suits failed these tests
7 Is this considered doping
No this is not classified as doping This is an equipment violation or sports fraud However the intent to gain an unfair advantage is similar
8 Was this an official team strategy or just the athletes
The investigation suggested it was not an official directive from the national federation It was likely an initiative from within the athlete and coaching group The teams equipment manager was also sanctioned
9 What is the baggy suit rule
The rule states that a ski jumping suit must be loose enough that when the official pulls the fabric away from the athletes body at specific points there must be a certain amount of slack The Norwegian suits did not have this required slack
10 Has this happened before in ski jumping
Yes suit
