Assistant Coach Thomas Lobben Also Suspended

Assistant Coach Thomas Lobben Also Suspended

Thomas Lobben, the assistant coach of the Norwegian ski jumping team, has also been suspended from his position by the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF). He is the third individual to face suspension following a scandal involving the manipulation of ski suits during the Ski World Championships.

The Incident The NSF announced on March 11, 2025, that they had transformed their internal investigations into suspensions due to the serious nature of the information revealed. Lobben consented to the suspension effective immediately, with the NSF stating that he played a role in the decision to manipulate the ski jump suits, which is against regulations.

Previous Suspensions Before Lobben's suspension, head coach Magnus Brevig and tailor Adrian Livelten had been suspended for their direct involvement in the suit manipulation that led to disqualifications of their athletes during the competition.

The manipulations involved altering the suits to enhance aerodynamics, a blatant breach of competition rules. Brevig publicly acknowledged the jamming decisions during a press conference, further complicating the team's situation.

Commencing Investigations Following the revelations, the FIS (International Ski Federation) launched an investigation into the Norwegian team's behavior regarding the alterations made to equipment. The Norwegian skiing federation emphasized its full cooperation with the investigation and guaranteed that all ski suits utilized during the championships would be handed over for review.

This scandal has raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of the sport and led to the suspension of key figures within the team. The situation remains fluid as the investigations continue.