World Curling Responds to Cheating Allegations in Canada-Sweden Match

World Curling has addressed the cheating accusations that emerged during a round-robin match between Canada and Sweden, asserting that their review found “no violations were recorded.”

The situation heated up when Sweden’s Oscar Eriksson accused Canada’s Mark Kennedy of double-touching the stone. A clip that circulated online showed Kennedy allegedly touching the stone with his finger after releasing the handle.

The conversation between the two players intensified, with Eriksson questioning, “Maybe it’s okay to touch the rock after the hog line, but I don’t know.” Kennedy was quick to respond, insisting, “Who’s doing this? I’ve never done it. You can quit.”

The exchange continued, with Kennedy using strong language to express his anger over the accusations. He exclaimed, “Come on, Oscar, stop for a second!”

Following the contentious moments, World Curling issued a statement on Saturday which addressed both the allegations and Kennedy’s behavior during the match. It explained that umpires are positioned at the ends of the curling sheets and may not see every potential delivery violation. However, during their observations on Friday night, they noted that no infractions occurred. The statement emphasized that no video replays were utilized and that the umpires’ decisions were final.

The governing body also clarified rules related to “double touch” and contact with the stone. Players are allowed to adjust the handle multiple times, but any contact made after the hog line is against the rules and could result in the stone being removed from play. Additionally, touching the stone while moving forward also leads to disqualification of the stone.

As a precautionary measure, World Curling announced the addition of two officials to monitor deliveries starting with the subsequent match. Canada was also issued a verbal warning regarding Kennedy’s language during the game.

The statement warned that further inappropriate conduct, as defined by Rule R.19, could lead to additional sanctions, potentially even suspension for Kennedy if he breaches the rules again.