Norway admits at a press conference that they cheated with the manipulated costumes for which two backhoppers were washed on Saturday.
-We have tried to deceive the system, says hope manager Jan-Erik Aalbu.
On Saturday, two Norwegian backhoppers were washed in the ski World Cup for manipulating the costumes, and already the day after, the International Ski Association started an investigation into all Norwegian medalists.
Now the Norwegian ski association admits that they deliberately cheated.
“Fully aware”
The union called an extra press conference on Sunday afternoon, where they revealed the scandal.
– We have cheated. We have tried to deceive the system, says Norwegian hope manager Jan-Erik Aalbu, and continues:
– The support team has stated that during Friday they chose to sew a reinforced thread in the jump dress to Johann Forfang and Marius Lindvik. This was made fully aware that it was not within the boundaries of the regulations, but in the belief that it would not be detected by FIS equipment controller.
Aalbu continues to tell that he himself was unaware of the cheating, and that he is against it.
– The revelation comes as a shock to me. Conscious manipulation of equipment and cheating goes against everything that I stand for.
Can get rid of all medals
Exactly what the punishment will be for the Norwegian union is still unclear.
Norwegian VG reports that all Norwegian medals in jumping and Nordic combination – a total of six – will be investigated by the international ski association FIS.
The Norwegian team has previously dismissed all charges of cheating. After jumping on the big hill, the Norwegians were washed. Then films spread on the cheat, and several other nations submitted protests.
Another Norwegian rider was washed for using unauthorized bonds.