Canada Curling Cheating Allegations Ignite Heated Exchange with Sweden at Winter Olympics
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Feb. 13-14, 2026 (ET) — A sharp controversy has erupted in the Olympic curling competition after Sweden lodged a formal complaint that a Canadian player gave a second push to his stone after release. The confrontation spilled into heated words on the ice and prompted officials to station umpires to monitor future deliveries.
What happened on the ice
The dispute came during a men’s round-robin match between Canada and Sweden. Sweden objected to a delivery by Canada’s Marc Kennedy, alleging he touched the granite with his finger after dropping the handle and imparted a second shove. In curling, players must release the stone before it crosses the hog line; an electronic sensor flags any release made past that line. The complaint focused not on the release timing but on an additional contact after the handle was let go.
Close-up, slowed video shown after the play appears to show Kennedy making contact with the stone as it approached the hog line. After Sweden reported the play to umpires, an official was positioned at the line to observe the next three ends — the established protocol for this sort of complaint. Any earlier plays could not be retroactively reviewed or overturned under competition rules.
The match finished 8-6 in Canada’s favor, but tensions escalated. Players from both sides exchanged angry words across the sheet. Kennedy, a veteran of multiple Olympics and international events, expressed outrage at the accusation and responded with profanity during the confrontation. Umpires later issued a verbal warning to him about his language, with a reminder that further misconduct could bring additional sanctions.
Officials' response and enforcement steps
Competition umpires monitored deliveries for the specified period and recorded no further hog-line violations or obvious retouches during that observation window. Officials also met with team representatives after the match to reiterate proper conduct and to make clear that monitoring would continue if concerns persisted.
Because the complaint was raised during the game, the immediate corrective measure was limited to placing umpires at the hog line for a set number of ends. The rules do not permit replay-driven reversals of earlier plays once the complaint is lodged mid-match. That procedural limitation has frustrated some observers who say close-up video could clarify intent, while others emphasize the importance of on-ice officials making real-time judgments.
Broader fallout and what it means for Canada
The controversy arrives at a precarious moment for a nation with deep curling expectations. Canada’s mixed doubles squad failed to reach medal contention, and the women’s team is operating with little margin for error in the round robin. The accusations have unsettled teammates and drawn scrutiny from competitors and fans alike, casting a shadow over results even when officials find no repeat infractions during monitored play.
Sweden’s side said it raised the complaint to preserve the integrity of the match and to ensure fair play; Canada’s players pushed back fiercely, arguing that their long records of sportsmanship and prior Olympic experience should weigh against a claim of deliberate cheating. The exchange highlighted how quickly tensions can flare in a sport where tiny margins and millimetres of stone movement determine outcomes.
As the tournament progresses, officials are expected to remain vigilant at the hog line, and any further allegations could trigger additional oversight or disciplinary measures. For now, the dispute stands as a prominent subplot of the curling competition, underscoring both the high stakes and the fine line separating legitimate delivery technique from perceived interference.
