Fresh allegations disrupted Olympic curling competition as Team Canada’s men confronted a second claim of “double-touching” in as many days at the Milan Cortina Games.
The latest accusation came from Team Switzerland during Saturday’s round-robin matchup at the Winter Olympics.
It followed a similar protest from Team Sweden the previous day that escalated into a heated exchange captured on broadcast microphones.
Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson alleged that Canadian third Marc Kennedy committed a double-touch violation.
The violation involves contact with the handle after releasing the stone beyond the hog line.
“I haven’t done it once, you can f–k off,” Kennedy responded, according to NBC cameras.
“I don’t give a s–t,” he added.
Canada ultimately secured an 8-6 victory in that contest.
Officials did not impose a competitive penalty, instead issuing Kennedy a verbal warning for profanity.
Swiss Raise New Concern
During Saturday’s game, Swiss curler Pablo Lachat-Couchepin was also heard raising concerns as Switzerland defeated Canada 9-5.
“I don’t want to focus too much on it, but he double-touched, and the referee saw it,” Lachat-Couchepin told his coach, according to the Toronto Star.
The back-to-back allegations intensified scrutiny over rule enforcement and conduct in Olympic curling, where double-touch violations can lead to the immediate removal of a stone and potentially alter match outcomes.
Kennedy adopted a more measured tone after the loss.
“My whole life I’ve been a little bit like that if my integrity gets questioned,” he told CBC.
“We’re human out there. Lots of emotions.
“No question I could’ve handled it better, though.”
Women’s Team Also Penalized
The controversy extended beyond the men’s competition.
Canada’s women’s team received a double-touch penalty during its own Saturday matchup with Switzerland.
Officials ruled that Canadian skip Rachel Homan committed the infraction and ordered the stone removed, affecting a tightly contested match.
Heightened monitoring also affected other teams.
A stone thrown by Britain’s men’s team was removed after officials determined Scottish curler Bobby Lammie had touched the stone following release during the ninth end of a round-robin game against Germany.
With multiple enforcement actions and growing tension on the ice, Olympic curling has entered an intensified debate over sportsmanship, rule interpretation, and competitive integrity at the Milan Cortina Games.
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