TNT Sports has issued a formal apology after one of its Winter Olympics pundits, Chris Dixon, made a controversial comparison between Canadian curler Marc Kennedy and the banned cyclist Lance Armstrong. The incident occurred during Day 11's episode of the sports show Buongiorno Milano, sparking immediate backlash and a swift apology from the broadcaster.
Controversial Remarks During Cheating Discussion
During a segment discussing cheating allegations against Canadian curler Marc Kennedy, former biathlete Chris Dixon commented on Kennedy's defensive reaction to accusations. "It's so crazy, though, how defensive he got; that's the thing," Dixon remarked. Fellow pundit Ed Drake, a former alpine skier, added, "Yeah, because he knew that he'd done wrong."
Host Orla Chennaoui then questioned whether the best form of defence is attack, to which Dixon responded, "Yeah, we saw that with Lance Armstrong, he was pretty aggressive." This remark appeared to allude to Armstrong's years of denying performance-enhancing drug use before his eventual admission and lifetime ban from cycling.
Immediate Backlash and Apology
The comparison prompted immediate reactions from other panel members. Ed Drake interjected with "Oh, here we go!" while Chennaoui and former Team GB snowboarder Aimee Fuller audibly expressed their surprise. Fuller labelled the remark "controversial," and Laura Robson, joining via video link from Cortina d'Ampezzo, noted, "I'm sure the curlers would love to be compared to Lance Armstrong."
Chennaoui added, "Never in my sporting broadcasting career did I think that Lance Armstrong would be compared to the Canadian curling team." Dixon quickly conceded, "Sorry, excuse me, that sounds a little bit hyperbolic, but what I'm saying is, listen, when you get that defensive, it's just a little bit like 'whoa, OK, everyone calm down a little bit'. It's just a little bit of a prod, and everybody's kicking off."
Context of the Cheating Allegations
The controversy stems from accusations made by Sweden against Marc Kennedy during a weekend curling match. Sweden alleged that Kennedy cheated by touching the stone again after its release down the ice. Kennedy responded with an expletive-laden tirade, which Dixon characterised as defensive behaviour.
Kennedy has since addressed the incident, stating, "I probably could have handled it better, but we're human out there, and there are a lot of emotions. I'm not going to apologise for defending my teammates and standing up for myself." He emphasised his lifelong commitment to integrity in curling, saying, "I've curled my whole life, never once with the intention of getting an advantage through cheating. So when it gets attacked, I get my back up and get a little bit aggressive."
Regret and Reflection
The Canadian curler acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly regarding his language during the confrontation. "I could have handled it better. No question. There are young curlers all over Canada who look up to my team and me. I pride myself on making them proud. That's the part that I regret a little bit... Probably the language, I could have done without that," Kennedy admitted.
TNT Sports has been contacted for further response regarding the incident and Dixon's comments. The broadcaster's coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games continues on discovery+ via Prime Video, offering over 850 hours of live action throughout the event.
