Three more Norwegian ski jumpers were suspended on Thursday as a growing cheating scandal continues to shake the sport.
World championship medalists Robin Pederson and Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, along with Robert Johansson, were provisionally banned due to suspicions of illegal alterations to their jump suits, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced. Their suspensions follow those of Olympic gold medalists Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, who were penalized a day earlier. The controversy arose after Norwegian team officials were found to have tampered with suits to enhance aerodynamics and improve jump distances.
FIS stated that all Norwegian jump suits from last week’s world championships in Trondheim were inspected, with no irregularities detected. However, further analysis revealed evidence suggesting additional suit modifications, prompting the latest suspensions. Pederson, Sundal, and Johansson are now barred from participating in any FIS or national ski federation events.
Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, where a World Cup event was taking place, FIS secretary general Michel Vion emphasized the strict enforcement of regulations: “The rules are clear, and they apply to everyone in the ski community. There’s no room for manipulation.”
It remains uncertain how widespread the practice of modifying pre-approved suits is in ski jumping. Lindvik and Forfang denied any knowledge of deliberate alterations, but their coach Magnus Brevig and equipment manager Adrian Livelten admitted to the misconduct and were relieved of their duties.
The FIS independent ethics and compliance office will conduct the investigation. FIS race director Sandro Pertile acknowledged the damage to the sport but stressed the importance of addressing the issue transparently. “This case involves intentional manipulation. While we can’t disclose all details, we are taking steps to clarify the matter.”
To prevent further infractions, FIS announced that all suits would be checked at the Oslo event.
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