“I don’t want winners who cheat”
Disqualification on tour: Hannawald becomes clear
December 30, 2025 – 9:05 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
In Oberstdorf, second-placed Timi Zajc from Slovenia was disqualified because of his suit. TV expert Sven Hannawald has a clear opinion on the decision.
Timi Zajc experienced a bitter evening at the opening competition of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf. The Slovenian had already been celebrated as second – but the joy didn’t last long.
With a leap to 138 meters, Zajc moved into second place in the second round. But around 20 minutes after the competition came the surprising news: the 23-year-old was disqualified. The reason was an irregular jump suit. The world association FIS determined that the stride was three millimeters too large.
“That’s not much, but too much. Rule is rule,” said FIS control chief Mathias Hafele. After the manipulation scandal at the World Cup last year, which affected several Norwegian jumpers, the association tightened material controls. Zajc is now the first high-profile example of this stricter practice on tour.
ARD presenter Lea Wagner asked in the TV broadcast whether such a disqualification after a podium finish had ever happened before. Expert and ex-tour winner Sven Hannawald replied: “No, because up to now everyone has assumed that the (controllers, editor’s note) wouldn’t do anything at a major event anyway. Accordingly, many nations have gone all in.”
Hannawald welcomed the consistent approach: “That’s exactly the signal I want to see from the new controller Mathias Hafele. Also on the tour. I don’t want any winners who cheat. Accordingly: goodbye.” The former tour winner also found clear words for Zajc: “I’m sorry for Timi Zajc. But at the end of the day, he is responsible for his own suit. He doesn’t need a trainer, mom or dad standing next to him. That’s his suit. If it’s too big, then it’s too big. And accordingly: Get out of it!”
However, there were no complaints with the suit of the winner Domen Prevc, also from Slovenia. “It was checked in the same way and went through. So I assume that everything is fine,” said Hannawald.
The German Felix Hoffmann benefited from the disqualification. The 28-year-old initially came fourth, but moved up to third place – and thus celebrated his first podium finish in the World Cup. Daniel Tschofenig from Austria came second.