Curling Controversy at Olympics Centers on Canada as Double-Touch Allegations Mount
Canada’s curling program is at the eye of a brewing controversy at the 2026 Winter Olympics after multiple opponents raised concerns that Canadian players made illegal contact with stones after release. The dispute has swept through both the men’s and women’s events in Cortina d’Ampezzo and prompted immediate changes to on-ice officiating.
What unfolded on the ice
During round-robin play on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13–14, 2026 (ET), officials and competing teams flagged several incidents in which it appeared stones were touched after release — a violation that can lead to the stone being removed from play. The first high-profile allegation involved a delivery in a match featuring a Canadian thrower; that exchange sparked a broadcast reaction and heightened scrutiny for subsequent draws.
In a later match, a Swiss player was overheard remarking to his coach that he believed he had seen a double-touch. Moments after that encounter, Canada’s women’s skip had a stone taken out of play when an on-ice official ruled her finger had contacted the rock after release. The player protested the decision, but umpires enforced the rule that prohibits touching the stone during its forward motion and after the hog line.
Broadcast replay of the women’s incident showed a fingertip grazing the running surface of the stone, a visual detail that intensified debate among fans, athletes and commentators. No video replays are used to overturn calls under current competition regulations, and the official’s judgment stands as final in those situations.
Governing-body response and rule clarification
The sport’s governing body moved quickly to clarify enforcement and observation procedures. Game umpires are positioned at the ends of sheets and cannot see every delivery infraction from that vantage, so when concerns are raised mid-game umpires have been instructed to closely observe deliveries for three ends following notification. After such an observation window in one of the contested matches, officials recorded no violations.
Officials also reiterated two technical points under the rules: players may retouch the handle before the hog line on occasion, but any contact with the handle after the hog line is prohibited and will result in the stone’s removal. Separately, any touching of the granite portion of a stone during its forward motion likewise leads to immediate removal from play. To reduce ambiguity and the perception of inconsistent calls, two officials will now be stationed to observe all deliveries beginning with Saturday’s slate of games.
The tightening of on-ice oversight comes as Canadian teams face pressure on the scoreboard. The mixed doubles side missed medal contention, and the women’s squad cannot afford additional losses if it hopes to reach the playoff stage. On the men’s side, a loss to an unbeaten opponent left tensions high and left teammates and rivals alike discussing both the result and the refereeing.
Players, coaches and fans have split over how to interpret the incidents: some view the calls as correct applications of a strict rule intended to preserve fairness, while others argue that the line between incidental contact and a decisive double-touch can be razor thin in elite competition. The governing body has emphasized that consistent, visible officiating is key to maintaining credibility and that enhanced observation will aim to limit controversy going forward.
As the Olympics progress, the issue will remain under a microscope. With matches scheduled daily through the round-robin phase, any further incidents involving delivery contact will be critical not only for game outcomes but for the sport’s reputation on the world stage.
