FIS plans to announce first results in Norwegian jumping suit probe
The ruling body FIS has said it plans to announce first results from its investigation into manipulated suits of the Norwegian ski jumping team on Wednesday.
The affair overshadowed the final days of the Nordic skiing world championships in Trondheim where three jumpers from hosts Norway were disqualified and the coach suspended after the team admitted to have tampered with the suits for aerodynamic reasons.
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The Norwegian ski federation meanwhile said on Tuesday that its team will compete at the Raw Air Tour in Oslo and Vikersund from Thursday onwards, and include the disqualified athletes from the worlds.
Normal hill and mixed team gold medallist Marius Lindvik originally won silver on the Trondheim large hill on Saturday but was then disqualified along with fourth-place finisher Johann André Forfang after equipment control. Team-mate Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal was also disqualified but allegedly for a different violation.
An anonymous and secretly video taken before Saturday's event through a keyhole or a door slit showed illegal stitching of an extra seam into the suits which gives the jumpers more stability in the air. Head coach Magnus Brevig was seen watching the procedure.
The Norwegian team has admitted to the manipulation, and Brevik was suspended along with equipment official Adrian Livelten.
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The FIS launched an investigation via its administration and its ethics and compliance committee, speaking of a very serious matter and pledging to work with all stakeholders in a fair and orderly probe.
FIS secretary general Michel Vion said that every measure would be taken to restore respect and fairness, and that equipment regulations could see big changes if necessary.
There are concerns that the affair could affect more athletes and results from Trondheim, and could also concern Nordic combined skiing, which includes ski jumping.
Norway won several golds in Nordic combined as well. But they also had their athlete Jørgen Graabak disqualified for a binding infringement in the team event.
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