"Sewn with reinforced threads": crooks from the Norwegian national team were caught red-handed

Jan-Erik Aalbu, sports director of the Norwegian ski jumping team, spoke to the press after the scandal at the World Ski Championships in Trondheim. The national team was caught cheating with equipment on Saturday. Reinforced thread was sewn into the jumpers' suits (groin area), which is a violation of the rules, Sport24 reports.

It all started with the filing of a protest by Austria, Poland and Slovenia. After that, Marius Lindvik and Johann Andre Forfang were disqualified from second and fifth place, respectively, and Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal was disqualified for violating the rules after the first round.

"We have deceived everyone. We tried to cheat the system. This is unacceptable. All night we did our best to find out what happened. I would like to apologize for my categoricality. I didn't know anything then. It came as a shock to me. This contradicts everything I stand for," said the sports director.

— Why did you do it if you performed so well in the championship before?

— I also asked myself this question. I am as shocked as all of you. I'm incredibly disappointed.

— Did the athletes know about this?

— As far as I know, no. I didn't talk to the athletes. I'll come back to all these details, but I won't reveal the names now.

— Do you take into account your own position?

— Yes, of course. In the situation we find ourselves in... of course. There is nothing to be surprised about.

The president of the Norwegian Sports Confederation, Zaineb Al-Samarai, also commented on the scandal at the World Cup in Trondheim:

"The fact that this has happened is disappointing, serious and unacceptable. The rules are clear, and we, the representatives of Norwegian sport, should be good role models and ensure compliance with the rules. If the violation of the rules is intentional, there must be consequences. I am glad that the Norwegian Ski Association took the incident very seriously, admitted the mistakes and stated that there would be consequences."

Meanwhile, last Friday, a video shot by a hidden camera from a Norwegian sewing workshop was published. On it, the support staff of the Norwegian national team reshaped the costumes of their athletes. Other national teams called the actions of the hosts of the championship a disgrace.