The International Ski Federation has made a final decision regarding the protest filed by the Finnish team. The Finns questioned the results of the cross-country skiing sprint events during the Olympic Games, accusing the Norwegian team of violating rules regarding ski preparation. However, the federation ruled that the appeal was submitted too late, which closes the path to changing the official medal classification in this discipline.

Finland's Procedural Errors

The protest was rejected by FIS because the 15-minute deadline for submitting objections after the race was not met.

Dispute Over Waxing Technology

The Norwegians used a special glue heating machine, which, according to the Finns and Swedes, constituted an unfair technological advantage.

Norway's Dominance Continues

Despite accusations, Johannes Klaebo retained the gold medal, and the Norwegian women's relay added another gold to the medal tally.

Controversies surrounding the cross-country skiing competition at the Olympic Games in Tesero have reached their conclusion with the decision of the International Ski Federation. The dispute flared up after the men's sprint, which was won by Johannes Klaebo. The Finnish team and the Finnish Olympic Committee filed an official protest, accusing the Norwegians of using prohibited waxing methods. The bone of contention became a modern machine for applying a glue layer, which the Norwegians allegedly introduced into the service area. The Finns argued that this action violated the principle of fair play and created unequal competition conditions. However, FIS announced that the protest was rejected on procedural grounds. According to regulations, any objections regarding athletes' equipment or the course of the competition must be reported within 15 minutes of the announcement of unofficial results. The Finns were late in fulfilling these formalities, which made their appeal groundless under sports law. The organization emphasized that although the Norwegians received permission to use the machine, this information should have been communicated to all teams, suggesting some communication shortcomings on the part of the federation, but it does not lead to a change in sports results. The history of equipment disputes in winter sports dates back to the 1980s, when the introduction of the skating technique in cross-country skiing forced a radical change in regulations and ski preparation methods. Simultaneously with the Norwegian technical scandal, the USA team came under scrutiny. The Finns pointed to the presence of a prohibited bottle in the service area during the race for the silver medal by Ben Ogden. Despite these numerous controversies, the medal classification remained unchanged. Norway solidified its leading position, winning an additional gold in the women's 4 x 7.5 km relay on Saturday, where they outpaced the Swedish and Finnish teams. This situation casts a shadow on relations between Nordic federations, which have been competing for supremacy in cross-country skiing for years. „The deadlines for filing protests have expired, therefore the protest is no longer admissible.” — FIS Representative

Mentioned People

  • Johannes Klaebo — Norwegian cross-country skier, Olympic multi-medalist, whose victory in the sprint was the subject of the protest.
  • Ben Ogden — American cross-country skier who won the silver medal in the sprint; irregularities were also suspected in his surroundings.