Marc Kennedy Faces Allegations at Winter Olympics
During the Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Canadian curler Marc Kennedy faced allegations of rule violations following accusations from Swedish competitor Oskar Eriksson. Eriksson claimed Kennedy breached curling rules by "double-touching" the stone during a crucial round-robin match, which Canada won 8-6.
Despite the escalating controversy, Kennedy firmly denied cheating, suggesting that the allegations might even be part of a "premeditated" scheme by Sweden (Kennedy's main rival) to undermine the Canadian team. The incident prompted intense scrutiny and debate within the curling community, traditionally known for its decorum.
In response, Kennedy received a verbal warning from the World Curling governing body, which also decided to increase match supervision by assigning two officials to monitor stone releases more closely. Nevertheless, no formal charges of cheating have been levied against Kennedy, as World Curling does not utilize video reviews for gameplay verification.
The allegations against Kennedy and subsequent events have had broader implications, affecting other Canadian curlers, including veteran skip Rachel Homan, who was similarly accused of double-touching during her match against Switzerland. These incidents have rocked the curling world, highlighting tensions and the potential for significant disputes even in a sport known for its calm and precision.
Moreover, Swedish TV's unusual focus on capturing the alleged violation on camera, following previous concerns raised by Sweden, reflects an escalating vigilance and strategic gamesmanship at play within international curling competitions.