In the scandal surrounding tampered with ski jumping suits at the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships, three Norwegian coaches have been sentenced to bans of 18 months each. This was announced by the ethics committee of the World Ski Association Fis. The trio of head coach Magnus Brevik and assistant coaches Thomas Lobben and Adrian Livelten were found guilty of playing a key role in manipulating the jump suits of Johann André Forfang and Marius Lindvik.
The bans have officially been in effect since January 8th, but time served since March 2025 will be deducted. The three convicts were provisionally suspended after the allegations became known. Charges were brought against the trainers on August 11th. With the conviction, they also received fines of 5,000 Swiss francs each, the equivalent of around 5,400 euros.
Coaches find judgment disproportionate
In a statement to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the coaches criticized the decision as “disproportionately strict compared to previous practice in similar cases.” They couldn’t understand why their case was treated differently.
“It is expressly clear from the reasons for the judgment that comparable violations of the rules have not previously been sanctioned – or only with a warning – and that this case serves as an example to mark a new and stricter line in international ski jumping,” said the officials’ lawyers. This raises fundamental questions about equal treatment and proportionality. They are therefore considering appealing the verdict at the International Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Scandal in Trondheim
At the World Championships in Trondheim at the beginning of March, anonymously filmed videos emerged showing the Norwegian team improperly editing competition suits for large hill jumping. An unauthorized seam was added to provide more stability when flying in the air.
The FEC ethics committee had previously sentenced the Norwegian ski jumpers Lindvik and Forfang to a three-month ban. However, these bans were served before the upcoming Olympic season, so the process is now considered completed. Lindvik was also allowed to keep his world title from last year. The coaching and support team around Brevik was largely replaced after the scandal.
