TRONDHEIM, Norway (AP) — Norway's ski jumping team wore manipulated suits during the Nordic world championships, a member of the country's ski federation said Sunday.
Norwegian team manager Jan-Erik Aalbu said at a news conference that the jumpsuits were deliberately altered.
Two Norwegians had been disqualified after organizers said their suits broke the rules.
Reports said extra seams were allegedly stitched in the suits to make them more stable and help improve performances. There were reported videos of the suits being altered.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said earlier Sunday that its Ethics and Compliance Office had opened an investigation “to assess the circumstances” of the disqualifications. It said skiers Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang were disqualified from Saturday's men’s large hill event “following an inspection of their jumping suits, which were not in compliance with the equipment rules."
“The FIS Independent Ethics and Compliance Office is now investigating a suspicion of illegal manipulation of the equipment by the Norwegian team," the federation said.
Karlsson and Klaebo
Frida Karlsson won the women's 50-kilometer cross country women's mass start race on Sunday to cap the world championships marked by hometown hero Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway winning all six races in which he competed.
Karlsson clinched the victory to give Sweden its sixth gold medal at the event. It was the first individual world title for Karlsson, a bronze medalist at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She also helped Sweden win a relay event earlier in the competition.
Nearly 100,000 fans were on hand as Klaebo claimed a rare victory in the 50-kilometer mass start freestyle for an unprecedented six for six in cross country events at the Nordic worlds on Saturday.
No man or woman had done the sweep at the world championships since it was extended to six events — in 2001 for the men and 2003 for women.
Slovenian siblings Domen and Nika Prevc won their respective large hill ski jumping titles.
Nordic combined legend Jarl Magnus Riiber, who is set to retire at the end of the season, won three gold medals.
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The Associated Press
