Scandals of the 2026 Winter Olympics, from cheating accusations to fraud
- - Scandals of the 2026 Winter Olympics, from cheating accusations to fraud
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAYFebruary 16, 2026 at 6:06 AM
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MILAN — Former IOC president Jacques Rogge famously said at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics: "A champion is more than a winner. A champion is someone who respects the rules, rejects doping, and competes in the spirit of fair play."
While respect, integrity and fairness are all hallmarks of the true Olympic spirit, several controversies have emerged at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
USA TODAY Sports rounded up all the scandals and incidents that have taken place in Milan, ranging from curling allegations to cheating confessions and possible injections. Here's what we know:
2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
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Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
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1 / 6See emotional moments of triumph and defeat at 2026 Winter Olympics
Yuma Kagiyama of Team Japan competes in Men's Single Skating - Short Program on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 7, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Kagiyama pulled off a stunning routine that received 108.67 points, placing first in the event.
Canada's Olympic curling controversy
The Canadian men's curling team was swept up in cheating allegations Friday, Feb. 13. Team Sweden, led by skip Niklas Edin, accused Team Canada, led by skip Team Brad Jacobs, of double touching the stone in the Canadians' 8-6 preliminary round win. Tensions boiled over between the squads and a NSFW exchange ensued, resulting in a verbal warning from World Curling.
The heated exchange started when Swedish third Oskar Eriksson told Canadian third Marc Kennedy, an Olympic gold-medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Games, "Apparently, it's OK touching the rock after the hog line." According to the World Curling rulebook, a player is not allowed to touch the handle after the hog line or touch the granite of the stone during forward motion. This violation would result in the stone being removed from play.
Kennedy initially asked who, before responding, "I haven't done it once. You can (expletive) off." Eriksson said he'll show Kennedy "a video after the game," which Kennedy replied, "I don't give a (expletive)."
Sweden's Eriksson alleged that the Swedish team has video evidence of the delivery issues, but World Curling said video replays cannot be used "to re-umpire game decisions. Decisions made during a game are final."
Feb 13, 2026; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Marc Kennedy of Canada during a men's round robin game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
But the double touch controversy continued Saturday, Feb. 14 when the Canadian women's curling team was penalized for the same infraction the men were accused of. Canada’s Rachel Homan was called for a rules violation for touching the rock in the team's narrow 8-7 loss to Switzerland. Her first stone was removed as a result, which Homan immediately contested. "I've never done it in my life," the Canadian skip told officials.
“They said I touched the stone after I let it go, which is so far from the truth, it’s crazy," Homan told CBC Olympics afterwards. "Just making something up... We have the Maple Leaf on our back, I’m not sure.”
EXPLAINER: Sweden men's curling accuses Canada of cheating
Norwegian biathlete admits cheating on girlfriend after win
After Sturla Holm Laegreid crossed the finish line third in the men's 20km biathlon, the Norwegian biathlete used the global stage of the Olympics to publicly announce he cheated on his former girlfriend.
"There is someone who may not be watching today. Half a year ago, I met the love of my life, the world's most beautiful, finest person," Laegreid said, according to a NRK transcript translated into English by Google Translate. "Three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her."
"I had a gold medal in my life," he continued. "There are probably many now who look at me with different eyes, but I only have eyes for her. I don't quite know what I want to achieve by saying it here now, but sport has taken second place in recent days. I wish I could share it with her."
Laegreid later issued an apology for overshadowing his fellow Norwegian teammate's gold medal win in the race, in addition to his ex-girlfriend, "who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight," he said.
Laegreid said he's no longer speaking on the subject, but he's remained in the spotlight after the confession. He claimed another bronze in the men's 10km sprint and won silver in the 12.5km pursuit.
MORE: Norway Olympic athlete wins bronze, then admits cheating on girlfriend
Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid of Norway celebrates on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 20km biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.Ukrainian skeleton athlete disqualified over helmet
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from wearing a helmet in tribute of more than 20 fellow athletes and coaches killed since Russia's invasion of his country almost four years ago. The International Olympic Committee said the helmet violates its rules against making political statements on the field of play, but Heraskevych said honoring the dead is not political and vowed to wear the helmet anyway, leading to his disqualification.
"It’s hard to say or put into words. It’s emptiness,” Heraskevych told reporters outside the Cortina Sliding Centre, before adding on X, "This is price of our dignity."
The IOC announced the decision Thursday, Feb. 12, after Heraskevych met with IOC president Kirsty Coventry ahead of the start of the skeleton competition. Heraskevych said he will appeal the IOC's decision to ban him from competing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of memory," Coventry said after her meeting with Heraskevych. "It’s not about the messaging; it’s literally about the rules and the regulations."
MORE: Ukrainian disqualified from Olympic Skeleton over helmet honoring war dead
1 / 7Ukraine skeleton racer banned from wearing helmet honoring fallen athletesVladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine poses with his helmet that serves as a tribute to athletes who have died amid Russia's attack on Ukraine during a press conference in Cortina d'Ampezzo as part of Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, on Feb. 10, 2026. Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych vowed that he would wear his helmet "on race day" despite a ban imposed by Olympic chiefs.'Penisgate': Crotch-enlarging injection rumors run rampant
Rumors that male ski jumpers have gotten penis-enlarging injections of hyaluronic acid to increase the distance of their jumps, has dominated headlines at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The rumors started swirling after a German newspaper reported on the issue, and was fueled by the fact that both the head coach and assistant coach of the Norway men’s team were suspended 18 months for their role in manipulating the groin area of suits at the 2025 Nordic ski world championships.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has dismissed the speculation as a "wild rumor." All three U.S. ski jumpers at the 2026 Games adamantly denied receiving penile injections, but didn't rule out fellow competitors. "Who knows what other teams are doing behind closed doors," Jason Colby said.
"It is difficult to say if it's something that has been done or if people are doing," added Colby, a first-time Olympian. "And I guess that, scientifically speaking, it could work.
An enlarged crotch would create an advantage, USA's Tate Frantz added. Kevin Bickner, who competed at the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022, told USA TODAY Sports he thinks the use of injections “certainly is possible."
PENISGATE: US ski jumpers say 'Penisgate' isn't for them. Other Olympic teams? 'Who knows'
Kevin Bickner of Team United States in action during the Men's Normal Hill Training training session on day minus one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 05, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.Madison Chock and Evan Bates win silver
U.S. husband-and-wife duoMadison Chock and Evan Bates won ice dance silver, falling short of French gold-medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron despite turning in a season-best free skate.
Beaudry and Cizeron had a 0.46-point lead heading into the free skate, but the French pair's performance wasn't as sharp as Chock and Bates. However, Beaudry and Cizeron were scored higher with a total of 135.64 points, compared to 134.67 points for Chock and Bates, and ended up winning gold by a 1.43 point margin.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States of America pose after receiving their medals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
The result sent shockwaves through the skating community. The reveal of the judges scores only added to the controversy and calls for an appeal. French judge Jezabel Daboui awarded Beaudry and Cizeron a 137.45 and Chock and Bates a 129.74 in the free skate, a more than seven-point differential that was the largest among any of the judges. It also marked Chock and Bates' lowest score, fueling speculation Daboui intentionally favored the pair representing her home country.
“Any time the public is confused by results, it does a disservice to our sport,” Chock said Thursday. “It's hard to retain fans when it's difficult to understand what is happening on the ice... People need to understand what they're cheering for and be able to feel confident in the sport that they're supporting.”
U.S. Figure Skating didn't appeal the controversial finish, a USFS official told USA TODAY Sports.
Beaudry and Cizeron are engulfed in their own controversy after teaming up less than a year ago. Beaudry's original partner and boyfriend, Nikolaj Sorensen, was banned for at least six years for allegedly sexually assaulting a U.S. skater in 2012. Beaudry and Cizeron continue to openly support him. Meanwhile, Cizeron split from former ice dance partner, 2022 Olympic gold medalist Gabriella Papadakis, after she accused him of being "controlling, demanding and critical.”
French biathlete wins gold after credit card fraud conviction
French biathlete Julia Simon won gold in the women's 15km individual and the biathlon mixed relay, less than our months after she was convicted of theft and credit card fraud for racking up more than $2,300 dollars in online purchases on her teammate Justine Braisaz-Bouchet's credit card.
Simon admitted to the crime in court and was slapped with a six-month ban by the French Ski Federation, which includes a five-month probation period that allows her to compete at the 2026 Winter Games. Simon was also fined $34,600, with $17,799 suspended.
MORE: French biathlete Julia Simon wins gold after credit card fraud conviction
Julia Simon of France celebrates winning gold in the women's 15km Individual biathlon at the Milano Cortina Olympics.President Trump calls U.S. Olympian 'a real loser'
American Olympians have opened up about the "mixed emotions" they've experienced at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan as political volatility and unrest divides their country back home. American freestyle halfpipe skier Hunter Hess said he chooses to represent "all the things that I believe are good about the U.S."
"It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of," Hess added ahead of the opening ceremony Feb. 6. "Wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S."
Hess' comments elicited a direct response from President Donald Trump himself. The commander in chief took to Truth Social to call Hess a "real loser," adding, "He shouldn’t have tried out for the Team."
Hess isn't the only athlete facing backlash. American figure skater Amber Glenn said she's been forced to take a social media break amid the criticism she received for speaking out about LBGTQ+ rights. Glenn said she was "disappointed" by the reception, adding she's "never had so many people wish me harm before."
MORE: These Olympians feel 'mixed emotions' representing Team USA amid unrest at home
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Reported presence of U.S. ICE agents sparks protests
U.S. government officials previously said Homeland Security Investigations, a unit within ICE that focuses on cross-border crimes, frequently sends officers to overseas events to assist with security and would be part of operations for the Olympics. The revelation prompted ICE protests in Italy.
On Feb. 5, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chief Security Officer Nicole Deal said ICE agents aren't part of the Team USA delegation at the 2026 Winter Olympics, although she said she could not speak on whether ICE agents were in Milan as part of the U.S. Embassy's overall security plan for the Olympics.
Three U.S. Olympic winter sport national governing bodies — U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and U.S. Speedskating — changed the name of the Milan hospitality space from The Ice House to the The Winter House amid protest concerns.
British-American skier Gus Kenworthy, who previously competed for Team USA in 2014 and 2018, before switching to represent Great Britain at the 2026 Games, shared his thoughts on ICE by sharing a photo of him urinating the words “(Expletive) ICE” in the snow.
Contributing: Nancy Armour, Steve Gardner, Mark Giannotto, Jordan Mendoza, Josh Peter, Scooby Axon
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scandals of the 2026 Winter Olympics: Curling, ice dance scoring, more
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