New Developments in the Ski Jumping Scandal: "We Regret It Like Dogs"

“We Regret It Like Dogs”

The scandal surrounding manipulated ski suits in the Norwegian ski jumping team continues to create significant turbulence. The team admitted to having manipulated their own suits, a shocking revelation that has led to the suspension of key involved parties.

On March 11, the suspended coach Magnus Brevig and the suit tailor Adrian Livelten spoke out, sharing their regrets about the actions that have caused embarrassment not only for themselves but also for the entire ski-jumping community.

In comments made outside the Norwegian Ski Association building, coach Brevig expressed a profound sense of remorse: "We regret it like dogs. I should have prevented this as the head coach, and I am extremely sorry that this happened."

Both Brevig and Livelten admitted to the cheating, emphasizing that multiple individuals were involved in the decision to manipulate the suits. Initially, the scandal came to light when a sponsor ended their collaboration with the Norwegian team.

Livelten publicly apologized particularly to the affected athletes, stating they were entirely blameless in this incident: "I want to apologize to Marius and Johann for the situation they have found themselves in through no fault of their own." He went further to admit, "What we did with the suits should have never happened; it was an act I will regret for my entire life. We always aimed to optimize the suits within the rules, but cheating is completely unacceptable."

Brevig also conveyed clear messages regarding the allegations of cheating, admitting to serious mistakes: "What we did was manipulate or modify the suits in a way that violated the regulations. It was a conscious action, and therefore it was cheating."

Despite the severity of the situation, assistant coach Thomas Lobben has not yet been suspended, and the future for him and the Norwegian ski jumping team remains uncertain. Brevig vehemently rejected claims that the cheating had been occurring for an extended period, affirming, "This is the first time it has happened."

The International Ski Federation (FIS) is expected to thoroughly investigate the incident, with new details likely to emerge in the coming days.