Canada faced fresh accusations of cheating during a women’s match against Switzerland at the Winter Olympics. The Canadian men’s team engaged in a heated argument with Sweden during their game, which was overshadowed by controversy over alleged double-touch incidents on the ice.
The Swedish team claimed that Canadian players had double-touched stones beyond the hog line, the point at which a stone must be released. The dispute extended into the following day when Canadian curler Rachel Homan had her stone disqualified for a supposed touch after release, following the official’s decision.
Despite Homan’s protestations, World Curling rules do not allow for official replays, leaving the final call to the officials. Expressing disbelief, Homan stated firmly on the ice that the accusation was unfounded.
Homan’s teammates also expressed frustration, with Emma Miskew questioning the ruling based on their perspective of the throw. Following the game, Homan voiced her continued disbelief at the decision, emphasizing that such actions were not part of their usual play.
In response to the cheating allegations and a profanity incident involving Marc Kennedy during the men’s game, Curling Canada issued a statement. They confirmed that no rule infractions related to stone touching were found after careful observation, despite Team Sweden’s complaint. The Canadian men’s team received a verbal warning for inappropriate language, with Curling Canada reiterating its commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.
Kennedy, while regretting his language, defended his actions as a response to questioning his integrity and that of his team. He emphasized his commitment to fair play throughout his career and stated that, while he regretted his choice of words, he stood by his actions in the heat of the moment.