Canada faces new cheating allegations at Milan Cortina as Olympic curling controversy grows

Canada has faced renewed accusations of cheating aft a subordinate of the Swiss men’s curling squad raised concerns of double-touching during their round-robin crippled connected Saturday. The allegations came soon aft World Curling made adjustments to officiating pursuing the archetypal claims made against Canada’s Marc Kennedy. 

Switzerland became the sole unbeaten squad astatine Milan Cortina aft defeating Canada 9-5 successful their 4th consecutive win, but the triumph did not travel without controversy. 

Canada's Ben Hebert, Brett Gallant and Marc Kennedy vie during a men's curling circular robin lucifer against Switzerland astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics. The lawsuit took spot successful Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, connected Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Swiss curler Pablo Lachat-Couchepin was captured connected the broadcast talking to his manager during a fifth-end interruption successful which helium mentioned that helium witnessed double-touching. 

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"I don’t privation to absorption excessively overmuch connected it, but helium double-touched, and the referee saw it," helium said, according to The Toronto Star. It was unclear if those concerns were raised to officials.

The contention adjacent bled onto the women’s broadside connected Saturday. 

Canadian curler Rachel Homan had her chromatic removed aft an authoritative ruled that she had touched it again aft releasing the handle. Homan protested, but per World Curling’s rules, determination are nary authoritative replays and the official’s last telephone stands. 

According to The Athletic, video replay of the incidental did amusement Homan’s digit grazing the rock.

Canada's Rachel Homan looks connected during the women's curling circular robin league against Italy astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics. The lawsuit took spot successful Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, connected Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

 The caller accusations came aft World Curling released a connection addressing the claims archetypal made by Sweden connected Friday and Kennedy’s consequent reaction, which was captured connected the unrecorded broadcast. 

WORLD CURLING FINDS NO VIOLATIONS AFTER CHEATING ALLEGATIONS ROCK CANADA-SWEDEN CURLING MATCH

"Game Umpires are situated astatine the extremity of each expanse and physically cannot spot each transportation infraction. However, erstwhile they are made alert of transportation issues, crippled umpires are positioned to observe the transportation for 3 ends. During this play of reflection successful the Friday evening game, determination were nary violations recorded," the connection began.

The sports governing assemblage besides addressed 2 regularisation concerns including "double-touching" and touching the granite. According to the rules, players tin retouch the grip aggregate times, but "touching the grip aft the hog enactment is not allowed and volition effect successful the chromatic being removed from play." Additionally, the chromatic volition beryllium removed from play if the granite of the chromatic is touched astatine each during "forward motion." 

As a effect of the allegations, World Curling said that 2 officials volition beryllium positioned to observe each deliveries opening with Saturday’s games. 

Canada's Brad Jacobs and Marc Kennedy successful enactment during the men's curling round-robin league against Sweden astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics. The lawsuit took spot successful Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, connected Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Kennedy vehemently denied the accusations made by Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson astatine the time, saying, "Who’s doing it? I haven’t done it once, you tin f--- off."

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Canada was issued a verbal informing for Kennedy’s language, which helium apologized for connected Saturday – but the apologies ended there. 

"I astir apt could’ve handled myself amended successful the moment," helium told CBC. "I cognize I’m a relation exemplary for Canadian curlers, truthful if I apologize astatine all, it's to the young curlers astir the state that would’ve expected much from maine successful that moment."

 Kennedy went connected to accidental helium was defending himself and his squad erstwhile their integrity came nether criticism, and went connected to further impeach Sweden of being successful the wrong, saying helium believed they "premeditated readying to effort to drawback us."

"They’ve travel up with a program to drawback teams successful the act," Kennedy said.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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