Winter Olympics Curling Scandal Intensifies with New Cheating Claims
Canada's curling star Marc Kennedy has been thrust into the centre of a growing controversy at the Winter Olympics, facing fresh allegations of cheating from Switzerland after initial accusations from Sweden. The scandal erupted during a heated match where Kennedy was accused of violating double-tapping rules by touching stones after release.
Kennedy's Fiery Response and Subsequent Apology
In response to Sweden's Oskar Eriksson's accusations during Canada's 8-6 victory, Kennedy delivered a profanity-laden retort, telling his opponent: "I haven't done it once. You can f*** off." The Canadian curler has since apologised for his choice of language while maintaining his innocence regarding the cheating allegations.
"You can't take it (the swearing) back. You learn from it, move on and try to get the focus back on the curling," Kennedy stated. "But I'll be honest, my whole life, when my integrity has been questioned, sometimes that's the response I have. I can't think of once in my entire career where I've done something to gain a competitive advantage by cheating."
Kennedy emphasised his commitment to fair play throughout his lengthy career, expressing regret only for his language, not for defending himself and his teammates against what he considers baseless accusations.
Switzerland Joins the Controversy
The scandal has expanded significantly with Switzerland's Pablo Lachat-Couchepin revealing he also reported Kennedy to match officials for misconduct during their Saturday encounter. The Swiss curler approached Canadian coach Glenn Howard during the fifth-end break, claiming to have witnessed a double tap violation.
"Well, everyone talked about it yesterday about the double, potential double touching, and I think, I assume, I saw one when the referee was right next to me," Lachat-Couchepin told the BBC after Switzerland's 9-5 victory.
The Swiss athlete clarified that his complaint wasn't personal against Kennedy, whom he described as "a fantastic player, a very fair-play guy" that he had admired since childhood. Instead, he emphasised the importance of rule compliance after officials had issued warnings about monitoring such violations.
International Reaction and World Curling Intervention
Team GB's Bruce Mouat has weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that while Kennedy likely meant no harm, all athletes must adhere to fair play standards. Following Britain's 7-4 victory over Czechia, Mouat commented: "Marc's been around for a long time, and he knows what's happening. I think we all trust that fair play is a big thing in our sport, and we just hope that everyone sticks to it."
World Curling has officially intervened in the matter, issuing a verbal warning to Kennedy for his language during the contentious match. The governing body released a statement confirming they had spoken with Canadian officials about the incident.
The organisation referenced Rule R.19, which prohibits "improper conduct, foul or offensive language, equipment abuse, or wilful damage" and warned that further violations could result in suspension. This formal intervention underscores the seriousness with which officials are treating both the conduct and the cheating allegations surrounding one of curling's most prominent figures.
The controversy continues to overshadow Olympic curling competition, raising questions about sportsmanship, rule enforcement, and the pressure elite athletes face in high-stakes international competition.
