After the Norwegian suit fraud, the World Association took first consequences. Seven Sven Hannawald supports this – and has proposed changes.
The admitted fraud of the Norwegian team through increased seams in suits shaked the world ski jumping world. Head coach Magnus Brevig was suspended, as did his assistant Thomas Lobben and the Adrian line cutter. The World Association (FIS) also suspended Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang.
On Thursday, the World Association also announced that they had suspended three other athletes with Robert Johansson, Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal and Robin Pedersen. FIS racing director Sandro Pertile said about the suits controlled after the fraud: “We found something else, not the same as in the cases before.”
The developments also employ the German ski jump icon Sven Hannawald. In an interview with T-Online, the four-hill tour tour and Olympic champion spoke about the suspends- and also about possible changes to the prevention of such events.
T-online: How do you look at the scandal after the suspends?
Sven Hannawald: I feel much better. At least that’s a sign of the FIS. Also for other jumpers who are ‘cheating’. You may be more vigilant. And the time until the end of the season should be enough for Lindvik, Forfang, Sundal, Johansson, Kristoffersen and Pedersen to think. For me, the crowning glory was the Nordic combiner Jørgen Graabak, who does not know how to know which bond is on his ski. We have to have so much basic confidence in the material, we fly through the air. The athletes want to tell me that they didn’t know anything about it? This is then mockery and not to top of the triple.
In addition to the suspends, the FIS has also determined that every jumper can only use a suit by the end of the season.
You have to see how this is handled. It is said that the suits are under lock and key outside of the competition. For me, the material as a jumper was always the most sacred. I would not have the best trust in relation to what happens to my suit somewhere. I am excited to see if the suits last to the season.
Does the FIS need further steps than the previously initiated?
For me, the suspension of the Norwegian athletes is a sign that officially cheated. Otherwise the fis would not pull out the jumper. If officially cheated, I would immediately cancel all World Cup medals. The fact that there is no evidence will be a problem internationally. But: Why should a Lindvik, after becoming world champion on the little ski jump, optimize again before the competition on the large hill? He was already the best. That makes no sense.
How exactly do you mean that?
If he had become the third or fourth on the normal hill, the thought of changing something would rather come. So it doesn’t open up to me. Therefore, for me it is most urgent that these suits have been used for a long time. I would not have a guilty conscience to recognize the medals directly.
Former Norwegian top performers such as Daniel-André Tande and Anders Jacobsen told that they have cheated. How do you look at these statements?
It disappointed me. I will not get rid of the feeling that you want to take part for your jumper colleagues Lindvik and Forfang etc., but so trivialize the fraud. If you have also cheated, I currently lack the sense of humor that I can laugh about it. I had perceived tande as a good friend, but now also take a distance from him and Jacobsen. It is just embarrassing if you still put such things in the room.