Canadian Curler Faces Accusations of Rule‑Breaking at Olympics

A Canadian curler has denied cheating after a video clip sparked a heated debate about rule violations in the Olympic curling tournament. The player, 44, claimed he had never intentionally touched a stone twice during play, a move that would give an unfair advantage. He suggested that the accusations might be part of a planned effort by Sweden, one of Canada’s main competitors for gold. The controversy began when Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson accused the Canadian of “double‑touching” during a 8‑6 round‑robin win. The clip appeared to show the Canadian touching the granite stone after releasing it, a move that is against curling rules. The player responded that he was unaware of any concerns about his technique and could not confirm whether the action was intentional or accidental. World Curling, the sport’s governing body, did not formally charge the athlete with cheating. Instead, they issued a verbal warning and assigned extra officials to watch players’ releases in later matches. The Canadian team’s loss to Switzerland (9‑5) and Sweden’s win over China (6‑4) occurred while the officials monitored the players closely.Sweden’s accusation was not isolated. The Swiss team also reported a suspected double‑tap during their match against Canada, and Canadian coach Glenn Howard noted that minor infractions are usually overlooked. Meanwhile, the Swiss coach admitted uncertainty about how to handle the new situation. The debate grew when Swedish TV moved a camera to the hog line, the area where stones must be released, after early complaints. The resulting footage showed the Canadian’s shot in question and was shown to Eriksson, who said he had already reported similar incidents at other events. He emphasized that fairness is paramount and that violations should be addressed immediately. Canadian women’s skip Rachel Homan was also called out for a possible double‑touch in a match against Switzerland, adding to the tension. Homan dismissed the claim as impossible before the game continued. The incident highlights how subtle rule infractions can spark intense scrutiny in high‑stakes competitions. It also shows that even seasoned athletes must be mindful of the fine lines between skillful play and rule violations.