Iivo Niskanen Takes Action Against Iltalehti's Article

Iivo Niskanen has lodged a serious complaint with a media self-regulatory body over a recent article that discussed his altercation with Kalle Parantainen during the Finnish Cup in Kuopio. Niskanen strongly asserts that the article disseminated significantly inaccurate information regarding the incident.

This confrontation has been a hot topic in Finnish skiing since late February, centering on the clash between Niskanen, a three-time Olympic champion representing Puijon Hiihtoseura, and Parantainen from Kuusamon Erä-Veikot, which occurred during a relay competition at the Finnish Cup.

Parantainen alleged that Niskanen kicked him with a ski during the race. However, video footage from the finish area reveals that Parantainen made only slight physical contact with Niskanen amid a heated verbal exchange.

The incident garnered substantial media attention across Finland, resulting in both athletes receiving verbal warnings, but no additional disciplinary actions were taken.

Niskanen voiced his displeasure with Iltalehti's detailed coverage of the incident, asserting that it contained fundamentally incorrect statements about his conduct during the race and at the finish line. His manager, Miro Rousku, informed Yle Urheilu that Niskanen was seriously contemplating a complaint to the Council for Mass Media (JSN) shortly after the Finnish Cup wrapped up.

Susan Heikkinen, a preparer at JSN, confirmed to Yle Urheilu that Niskanen has indeed filed a complaint regarding the content of the Iltalehti article.

While the specific details of the complaint remain confidential at this time, Heikkinen indicated that it has been received and signed by Niskanen. Rousku also communicated on Thursday that they will refrain from public commentary on the matter for the time being.

Future Steps

The next phase involves Eero Hyvönen, the chairman of the Council for Mass Media, deciding whether the complaint will advance to the council's formal review process. Due to a backlog of cases, this decision is projected to take several months.

Should the complaint be accepted for review, the process is expected to last approximately two months, with a conclusion expected in the autumn. Notably, none of the 14 regular council members have ties to Iltalehti, meaning should a representative be appointed, they would be excluded from the proceedings in accordance with JSN regulations.

The JSN is an organization founded by publishers and journalists to promote good journalistic practices while safeguarding freedom of speech and publication by assessing adherence to the Journalists' Guidelines. It does not operate as a court or authoritative entity.

If the council finds that the media outlet has breached the Journalists' Guidelines, it usually results in a reprimand. Conversely, if the ruling favors the media outlet, the outcome will be an acquittal.