Suited And Booted: Ski Jumpers Disqualified As Kit Chaos Returns To Sport

Ski jumping faces much contention pinch six months to spell until nan Winter Olympics aft nan first high-level title of nan caller play was marred by galore athletes being disqualified complete ill-fitting suits. The governing assemblage says it’s “perfectly normal”.

The skis jumping world was rocked successful March by nan find of illegally altered suits connected nan Norwegian squad astatine nan world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes complete those changes which could thief nan wearer soar done nan aerial for longer pinch nan suit’s larger aboveground area.

In Saturday’s first arena of nan 2025-26 play – a summertime Grand Prix arena connected an artificial aboveground successful France – six antheral skis jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues specified arsenic waist size and 3 much were “not permitted to start”. Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing arsenic nan Grand Prix continued connected Sunday.

The federation confirmed successful an emailed connection that it is treating nan spate of disqualifications arsenic nan earthy consequence of tightening up nan rules aft nan Norwegian suit scandal. The FIS title head Sandro Pertile said he doesn’t deliberation anyone was trying to cheat and that less disqualifications will hap arsenic teams get utilized to nan rules. Making specialised skis jumping instrumentality is “a reasonably analyzable matter”, he explained.

“It’s perfectly normal for teams to request immoderate clip to accommodate to nan caller business aft specified broad changes to nan instrumentality regulations. Some header pinch it consecutive away, others find it difficult astatine first,” Pertile said. “It’s besides important to item that these disqualifications are intelligibly a consequence of method inadequacies – there’s nary motion whatsoever of sick intent from nan teams.”

Nika Prevc successful action astatine nan Courchevel event. Photograph: Vianney Thibaut/NordicFocus/Getty Images

The FIS indicated that a further 9 men and 5 women didn’t compete pursuing a “technical approval” process, though it wasn’t clear if each of those cases progressive their suits. Five of those 14 were connected nan United States team, which didn’t instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Among those disqualified connected Saturday was Norway’s Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had antecedently been provisionally suspended earlier this year pursuing nan world championships.

The FIS signalled it will stay rigorous successful its checks done nan Olympic play but expects to find athletes wearing progressively snug – and truthful ineligible – suits. “The teams cognize that they person our afloat support, and we expect nan number of disqualifications to alteration importantly successful nan coming weeks,” Pertile said. “With that said, we will stay strict and precise pinch instrumentality cheque nan full play long; location is nary room for exceptions.”