The allegations have doubled in the “double-touching” curling controversy involving Team Canada at the Winter Olympics.
Canada’s men’s team has been accused of cheating for the second time at the Milan Cortina Games, the latest by Team Switzerland during Saturday’s round-robin match.
Team Sweden had made a similar accusation against Canada the previous day, leading to a contentious and expletive-laden argument between members of each squad.
Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson accused the Canadian third Marc Kennedy of double-touching, a rules violation that involves making contact with the handle after releasing the stone beyond the initial boundary — or what is known as the hog line.
“I haven’t done it once, you can f–k off. I don’t give a s–t,” Kennedy fired back, as overheard by NBC cameras.
Canada ended up winning the match, 8-6, and the team was not assessed a penalty for breaking the rules beyond a verbal warning for Kennedy for use of profane language.
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Swiss curler Pablo Lachat-Couchepin also was overheard during Saturday’s 9-5 win over Canada telling a coach that he witnessed double-touching by the Canadians
“I don’t want to focus too much on it, but he double-touched, and the referee saw it,” Lachat-Couchepin was quoted as saying to his coach by the Toronto Star.
Kennedy, a four-time Olympian, was calmer following Saturday’s loss.
“My whole life I’ve been a little bit like that if my integrity gets questioned. We’re human out there. Lots of emotions,” Kennedy told CBC. “No question I could’ve handled it better though.”
Canada’s women’s team also was assessed a penalty for double-touching in its match Saturday against Switzerland. The umpire accused Canadian skip Rachel Homan of the infraction and called for the stone to be removed.