Canada Curling Faces Second Cheating Allegation Amid Olympic Controversy
The ongoing controversy surrounding Team Canada’s performance in curling at the Winter Olympics has escalated significantly. The men’s curling team faces a second allegation of cheating, this time from Team Switzerland during their round-robin match on February 14, 2026. Just a day earlier, Team Sweden had accused them of similar offenses, leading to heated exchanges between team members.
Details of the Allegations
The latest claim involves “double-touching,” a rules violation where a curler makes contact with the handle after releasing the stone past the hog line. Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson specifically accused Canadian third Marc Kennedy during their match. In a heated retort, Kennedy dismissed the accusation, saying, “I haven’t done it once, you can f–k off. I don’t give a s–t,” as reported by NBC cameras.
Match Outcomes
Despite the controversial claims, Canada triumphed over Switzerland with a score of 8-6. The match did not result in any penalties for Canada, aside from a verbal warning issued to Kennedy for his language.
- Date of Allegations: February 14, 2026
- Opponent: Switzerland
- Match Result: Canada won 8-6
- Previous Accusation: Team Sweden claimed double-touching on February 13, 2026
Statements from the Players
Following the match against Switzerland, Kennedy reflected on the allegations and his reactions. “My whole life I’ve been a little bit like that if my integrity gets questioned. We’re human out there. Lots of emotions,” he shared with CBC. “No question I could’ve handled it better, though.”
Women’s Team Incident
The controversy is not limited to the men’s team. Canada’s women’s curling team faced similar scrutiny on the same day. Canadian skip Rachel Homan was accused of double-touching, resulting in the removal of one of her stones during their match against Switzerland.
Increased Surveillance in Curling Matches
This incident has prompted increased officiating scrutiny across matches. For instance, a stone thrown by the British men’s team was also removed during a game against Germany due to a similar double-touching violation. Umpires reported that Scottish curler Bobby Lammie made contact with the stone after its release.
The allegations of cheating within Team Canada highlight the growing tensions and controversies present in Olympic curling. As the tournament progresses, all eyes remain on the teams and their adherence to the rules.
