There's a curling controversy on the Winter Olympics and Canada is on the heart of the allegations -

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Controversy is swirling in curling on the Winter Olympics and it’s all centering on whether or not the mighty Canadian group is dishonest.

Each males’s and ladies’s groups have now been accused of the identical infraction: double-touching the curling stone after it’s launched.

Commercial

It comes because the historic curling powerhouse finds its ego bruised. Its blended doubles group did not even play for a medal, and its ladies’s group can’t afford to lose extra matches in the event that they hope to advance.

This is a take a look at the entire controversy and why it has exploded:

What occurred on the curling heart in Cortina

On Friday, Swedish roller Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian roller Marc Kennedy of breaking the principles by touching the rock once more after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. Kennedy blew up, launching an expletive-laden outburst.

That was earlier than video showing to point out a transparent double-touch by Kennedy circulated on social media, taken by Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Nonetheless, he maintained his innocence. The Canadians received the match, 8-6.

Commercial

Late Saturday, an umpire accused acclaimed Canadian skip Rachel Homan of the identical infraction in Canada’s match towards Switzerland. The umpire stopped play and the stone was faraway from play. Homan seemed shocked and denied the allegation.

Once more, video unfold on social media showing to point out her double-touch. The Canadians misplaced to the Swiss, 8-7.

There are guidelines towards double-touching

After the uproar, World Curling clarified that double-tapping shouldn’t be allowed, issuing an announcement: “Throughout ahead movement, touching the granite of the stone shouldn’t be allowed. This may outcome within the stone being faraway from play.”

Commercial

Here’s what the Canadians say

Requested concerning the footage, Kennedy mentioned: “If any individual mentioned to you, ‘Hey, do you double-touch on a regular basis?’ I actually, in that cut up second of a second, I couldn’t even let you know if I do or not.”

He then advised the entire thing might need been “premeditated planning to attempt to catch us.”

“They’ve give you a plan to catch groups within the act,” Kennedy mentioned.

Homan, in the meantime, postulated that she was being unfairly focused due to the controversy on the lads’s aspect.

“I don’t perceive the decision. I’ll by no means perceive it. We’ve by no means executed that,” she mentioned. “It has nothing to do with us.”

Commercial

Why that is such a giant story

As fierce because the competitors may be, curling has a quiet camaraderie to it regardless that there have been scandals (see: Broomgate, a sweeping-related headache that World Curling believes it solved final June). So it stands out when there are allegations of dishonest.

Canada can be the highest nation in curling, simply its largest market and the place the largest non-Olympic competitions are inclined to happen. They’re taking it personally that their integrity is coming underneath assault in entrance of a world viewers on the Olympics, which touts the values of respect and friendship.

The athletes enjoying for Canada and Sweden was once shut off the ice – enormous rivals, positive, however admiring of one another’s curling expertise. Now there’s clear animosity between the groups, which is intriguing for the informal viewer however a tragic blow to the curling group.

Commercial

What’s subsequent

Canada’s curlers are the place they don’t need to be in the course of a Winter Olympics: on the again foot, not simply questioning their method – “We’ll make some changes, release-wise, if now we have to,” Kennedy mentioned – but in addition srambling to be within the combine for medals on the finish of the week.

Kennedy had the worst shot success of Canada’s 4 gamers in its solely sport Saturday, in accordance with match statistics. Canada misplaced 9-5 to Switzerland, a group it was anticipated to beat.

All eyes are on each groups now. The Canadian males wouldn’t face Sweden once more earlier than the semifinals, ought to each groups make it, and that might be must-see TV whether or not you’re a curling fan or not.