Norwegian Ski Jumpers Banned Over 'cheat' Suits

Two Norwegian skis jumpers person accepted three-month suspensions for their portion successful nan tampering of skis suits during a competition, nan International Ski Federation (FIS) has said.

Olympic medallists Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang were accused of instrumentality manipulation successful nan men's ample elevation arena astatine nan World Ski Championships successful Trondheim, Norway, successful March.

The pair, and 3 squad officials, were charged by nan sport's governing assemblage earlier this month.

Speaking erstwhile nan manipulation was uncovered successful a regular instrumentality check, FIS wide head Jan-Erik Aalbu said nan squad had "tried to cheat nan system" by putting reinforced thread successful nan jumpsuits of Lindvik and Forfang.

Lindvik, 27, had primitively vanished 2nd successful nan men's ample elevation arena while 30-year-old compatriot Forfang came fourth, but some were disqualified aft nan instrumentality inspection.

They were provisionally suspended successful March pending an investigation.

When nan athletes were charged, Aalbu said Lindvik and Forfang were unaware of nan reinforced thread.

"They were not charged pinch existent knowledge of nan manipulations," nan FIS Ethics Commission said connected Saturday, adding they had admitted to breaching title rules.

"They besides work together that they should person checked and asked questions astir nan night-time adjustments.

"Johann Forfang and Marius Lindvik are truthful consenting to judge nan projected sanctions of a play of ineligibility of 3 months, from which nan play of nan provisional suspension already served shall beryllium deducted."

They person besides been ordered to salary a 2,000 Swiss franc (£1,845) publication to nan costs of nan proceedings.

Their lawyers said nan lawsuit "shows that routines for connection betwixt nan support unit handling instrumentality and suits, and nan athletes, should beryllium improved to forestall akin situations from occurring successful nan future".

The Winter Olympics successful Milan-Cortina starts successful February, erstwhile Lindvik will purpose to beryllium defending his ample elevation title.

Forfang won nan ample elevation squad golden and normal elevation individual metallic astatine nan 2018 Olympics.