Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel was disqualified from the Alpine season opener in Sölden for violating the new fluorine ban. There is concern in the biathlon circus that ski hunters could suffer the same fate.
The fact that fluorine-containing wax is banned across all sports in the coming winter sports season is expressly welcomed by all those affected. Only: The test methods still don’t seem to be 100 percent effective. There may therefore be errors in the assessment. In the worst case scenario, athletes end up being disqualified even though they or their technicians have done nothing wrong.
This is what happened to the Norwegian alpine team at the weekend in Sölden. There, Ragnhild Mowinckel was taken out of the race because the fluorine level was too high. The association assures that it did not cheat. When the skis were examined, a fluorine content was detected that was many times higher than the limit. The cause? Not clear.
The biathletes are also “clearly worried”
“I wouldn’t wish something like that on my worst enemy,” said Norway’s biathlon chief technician Tobias Dahl Fenre, looking back on the events in Sölden in an interview with “TV2”. “As far as we are concerned, we are also clearly concerned that we could end up in a similar situation,” he also fears possible “misdiagnoses” and disqualifications.
The new rule has caused a shift in priorities, added Fenre. “Making the skis fast is now second priority.” Compliance with the limit values is now the top priority. He feels particularly sorry for the technicians and Mowinckel. “They became the first victims of the new rules. But this is our new life. It won’t be the last [Disqualifikation] have been,” he fears further rule violations in the upcoming season.