Curling Controversy at Winter Olympics Puts Canada in the Middle of Cheating Allegations
The Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo have been overshadowed by a row over alleged cheating that has placed Canada at the center of the debate. The dispute erupted during a men's round-robin match on Feb. 13, 2026 (ET) and has since raised fresh scrutiny of delivery rules, officiating protocols and sportsmanship on the ice.
What happened on the ice
The confrontation began when Sweden lodged a formal complaint after observing what it said was an illegal second touch to a Canadian stone during delivery. Video reviewed by observers appears to show a Canadian player’s index finger contacting the granite as the stone approached the hog line, the point at which a delivered stone must be released.
The match grew tense after the complaint, with exchanges across the ice culminating in heated words from the Canadian player involved. Officials were summoned and an umpire was posted at the hog line for subsequent ends to monitor deliveries. The contest finished as an 8-6 win for Canada, but the on-ice discord left a mark on both teams.
Rules, monitoring and official response
Curling’s delivery rules require that a player release the stone before it reaches the hog line; many high-level competitions use an electronic sensor to flag late releases. The specific infraction in question is a so-called "double touch" or "retouch, " in which a player touches or gives a secondary shove to the stone after releasing the handle, potentially altering its line and speed.
Officials followed the sport's protocol for handling a complaint about deliveries: they spoke with both teams and positioned game umpires at the hog line to observe deliveries for a defined period. During that observation window, no hog-line violations or retouches were recorded by the umpires. That did not, however, erase the dispute over earlier plays that could not be retroactively reviewed.
World Curling met with team officials and issued a verbal warning over language used during the exchange; further inappropriate conduct could result in additional sanctions. The dispute has prompted calls for clearer enforcement and consideration of whether review mechanisms need expansion for delivery infractions.
Stakes, reaction and wider implications
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment for Canada’s curling program. The country failed to medal in mixed doubles and the women’s team faces a precarious path through the round robin, increasing pressure on all squads to perform. Opponents and fans say the integrity of matches must be protected, while Canadian competitors argue their reputations are being unfairly questioned after long careers at the top level.
Oskar Eriksson of Sweden stressed the importance of clean play and said his team felt compelled to raise the issue when they saw what they believed was an improper poke of the stone. The Canadian player at the center of the complaint defended his record and expressed frustration at being accused after many years on tour and multiple Olympic appearances, calling the allegation damaging to his professionalism.
Beyond the immediate fallout, the episode has reignited discussion about how curling adjudicates subtle delivery infractions in real time. With cameras and slow-motion replay increasingly able to capture tiny movements, teams and officials face pressure to balance rigorous enforcement with the limits of in-the-moment officiating. For now, the matter remains unresolved in the eyes of many observers, and the spotlight on Canada’s teams is unlikely to fade until the tournament concludes.
