At a Glance
- Three Norwegian ski-jumping officials were caught on video tampering with athlete suits.
- The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) handed 18-month suspensions to the head coach and suit technician, and 3-month suspensions to two Olympic jumpers.
- The scandal, uncovered during the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships, has forced a national review of enforcement protocols.
- Why it matters: It shows how rule-breaking can reach the highest levels of sport and jeopardize athletes’ Olympic dreams.
The Norwegian ski-jumping team’s recent scandal has rocked the winter sports world. Video footage from the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships revealed that team officials were inserting illegal non-elastic stitching into the crotch area of athletes’ suits-an act designed to make the suits more aerodynamic and give jumpers an unfair advantage. The incident has led to long suspensions for coaches and technicians, and temporary bans for two Olympic gold medalists.
Scandal Unveiled: How Officials Tampered with Suits
During the championships held in March 2025, head coach Magnus Brevig and suit technician Adrian Livelten were caught on camera adjusting the suits of Olympic gold medalists Johann André Forfang and Marius Lindvik. The footage showed them inserting non-elastic stitching into the crotch areas after the garments had already passed official inspection. The alteration was intended to enlarge and smooth the area, allowing the jumpers to glide farther.
The team’s assistant head coach, Thomas Lobben, was not seen in the footage but later confessed to participating in the scheme. His admission came after the FIS began an 11-month investigation into the matter.
Officials Pulled: Suspensions and Confessions
Following the investigation, the FIS announced on January 15, 2026 that Brevig and Livelten would receive 18-month suspensions. The decision was made after reviewing the video evidence and corroborating statements from team members.
Lobben, who had no visual evidence against him, was still suspended after he admitted his role in the plot. The FIS noted that even without direct footage, his confession proved sufficient to warrant disciplinary action.
FIS Response: Lengthy Investigation and Heavy Penalties
The FIS’s investigation spanned 11 months, starting shortly after the March 2025 championships. According to a spokesperson, the federation had never seen a case where officials went to such lengths to bend the rules. Bruno Sassi, the FIS spokesman, emphasized that the penalties were necessary to send a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Sassi remarked, “There have been disqualifications in the past, many. It’s part of the sport, but there had never been that kind of a brazen attempt to not only bend the rules, but like downright do something…to cheat the system in a way that it is very different from simply having a suit that is a tad too long or a tad too loose.”
The investigation also confirmed that the suits’ modifications could only be detected by tearing them apart, highlighting how subtle the changes were.
Impact on Athletes and Olympics
Johann André Forfang, 30, and Marius Lindvik, 27, both denied any knowledge of the suit tampering. Despite their claims, the FIS imposed 3-month suspensions on them, effective from August 2025. The bans were designed to allow them to compete in the upcoming Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, scheduled for next month.
The athletes’ suspensions came after the FIS decided not to impose a lower sanction, stating that the time was right to set a clear marker on what is unacceptable in the sport.
Reactions and Reforms
The scandal has caused “national shame in Norway” and forced the sport’s committee to revamp its enforcement protocols. The FIS’s panel rejected the option of a minimal sanction, emphasizing the need for a strong deterrent.
The incident also prompted a broader conversation about the integrity of ski-jumping suits. Experts noted that the alleged modifications could have given the jumpers a measurable advantage, potentially affecting the outcomes of international competitions.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Video footage captured tampering at Nordic World Ski Championships |
| February 16, 2025 | Forfang and Lindvik compete in the championships |
| August 2025 | 3-month suspensions for Forfang and Lindvik begin |
| January 15, 2026 | 18-month suspensions announced for Brevig and Livelten |
| January 15, 2026 | Lobben’s confession and suspension |
Key Takeaways
- The Norwegian ski-jumping team’s officials were caught tampering with athlete suits.
- The FIS handed 18-month suspensions to the head coach and suit technician, and 3-month suspensions to two Olympic gold medalists.
- The scandal has prompted a national review and stronger enforcement protocols in the sport.
- The athletes will still be able to compete in the upcoming Winter Games, but the incident underscores the importance of integrity in competitive sports.
The case serves as a stark reminder that rule-breaking can reach even the highest echelons of sport, and that governing bodies must enforce strict penalties to maintain fair competition.
