Equipment Violations, Doping Rumors, and Odd Incidents Mark Early Milan‑Cortina Games
Updated (2 articles)
Ski jumping faces heightened equipment scrutiny Austrian jumper Daniel Tschofenig was disqualified from the men’s large‑hill event after officials measured his boots four millimetres over the permitted limit, prompting a broader review of ski‑jump gear compliance [1]. The World Anti‑Doping Agency said it would investigate reports that male ski jumpers were injecting hyaluronic acid into their genitals to enlarge suit surface area, a claim first reported by Bild and not yet substantiated [1]. FIS officials added that no evidence of such injections has been found, but pledged to act if credible information emerges [1].
Norwegian biathlete confesses affair on live broadcast After winning bronze in the 20 km individual race, Sturla Holm Laegreid used his post‑race interview to admit cheating on his girlfriend, describing the revelation as his “biggest mistake” and “worst week” [1]. The confession sparked a follow‑up story in Norway’s VG, where his ex‑girlfriend posted an anonymous comment expressing difficulty forgiving him [1]. The incident drew widespread media attention, highlighting personal drama intersecting with Olympic competition.
U.S. medal ribbons break moments after ceremony Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu reported that the ribbons securing their gold medals snapped shortly after they were presented, a malfunction Johnson described during a BBC interview [1]. Games operations chief Andrea Francisi responded by promising tighter quality‑control checks on medal presentations for the remainder of the Games [1]. The ribbon failures added to a series of logistical hiccups observed during the opening weeks.
Curling federation adds officials after double‑touch claims Sweden lodged a formal complaint accusing Canada’s Marc Kennedy of repeatedly double‑touching stones during a match, with video analysis supporting the allegation [1]. In reaction, World Curling introduced extra on‑ice officials and granted teams the right to request monitoring for at least three ends, also noting similar unintentional incidents involving Canadian skip Rachel Holman and Great Britain’s Bobby Lammie [1]. Switzerland filed a report to the governing body, prompting the rule adjustments.
Wolfdog disrupts women’s cross‑country sprint finish A stray Czechoslovakian wolfdog entered the Tesero sprint course, chased competitors and a camera crew, and became a viral focus of the Games [1]. Greek skier Konstantina Charalampidou noted the animal’s appearance but was unable to locate it after the race [1]. Officials have not identified the dog’s owner, and the incident raised questions about course security.
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Timeline
2025 – Norwegian ski jumpers Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang receive three‑month bans for inserting reinforced thread into their jumpsuits, underscoring the sport’s strict 2‑4 cm tolerance and 3 cm crotch‑height limits for men’s suits[2].
Jan 2026 – German tabloid Bild claims male ski jumpers inject hyaluronic‑acid into their penises before 3‑D body‑scanner suit checks to enlarge surface area, noting the filler can add one‑two cm of girth and is not prohibited under current anti‑doping rules[2].
Feb 5, 2026 – WADA director Olivier Niggli states the agency will open an investigation if credible evidence of penis‑injection use emerges, emphasizing that no indication of such practice exists yet[2].
Feb 5, 2026 – FIS race director Sandro Pertile explains that a 5 % increase in ski‑jump suit surface can measurably boost lift, so even a centimetre of extra material matters for flight distance[2].
Feb 5, 2026 – FIS communications director Bruno Sassi confirms the federation has never seen evidence of hyaluronic‑acid injections among jumpers[2].
Feb 22, 2026 – WADA reiterates it will act on any proof of penis‑injection allegations in ski jumping, echoing its Feb 5 stance while FIS maintains no current evidence of the practice[1].
Feb 22, 2026 – Austrian ski jumper Daniel Tschofenig is disqualified from the men’s large‑hill individual event after officials find his boots exceed the size limit by four mm, highlighting intensified equipment compliance checks[1].
Feb 22, 2026 – Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid, bronze‑medalist in the 20 km individual, confesses live on TV to cheating on his girlfriend, calling it his “biggest mistake” and “worst week,” prompting an anonymous response from his ex‑partner in VG[1].
Feb 22, 2026 – U.S. gold‑medalists Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu report that the ribbons holding their medals break shortly after the ceremony; Johnson describes the failure in a BBC interview and Games operations chief Andrea Francisi vows tighter quality control for future medal presentations[1].
Feb 22, 2026 – A curling dispute erupts as Sweden accuses Canada’s Marc Kennedy of repeated double‑touching; video evidence leads World Curling to add extra officials and permit teams to request monitoring for at least three ends, while similar incidents involving Canada’s Rachel Holman and Great Britain’s Bobby Lammie are deemed unintentional[1].
Feb 22, 2026 – A stray Czechoslovakian wolfdog runs onto the women’s cross‑country sprint finish in Tesero, chasing skiers and a camera crew; Greek skier Konstantina Charalampidou notes the animal’s appearance but cannot locate it afterward, turning the incident into a media focal point[1].