No verdict yet in the ski jumping suit scandal

An independent investigating body has referred the case to the FIS Ethics Commission for a final verdict - which will now decide on possible bans, fines or disqualifications.

The World Championships in Trondheim at the end of February and beginning of March were overshadowed by the scandal surrounding manipulated suits. Anonymously filmed and published videos showed how the Norwegian team altered competition suits in an unauthorized manner. An unauthorized seam was attached to provide more stability when flying in the air.

Three coaches and five jumpers were provisionally suspended during the World Championships. Following the investigation by the independent ethics office - 38 witnesses were interviewed and 88 pieces of evidence viewed in five months - only world champion Lindvik and Olympic team champion Johann André Forfang are left of the athletes who will now be judged by the FIS Ethics Commission. Both claim to have known nothing about the manipulations.

According to the FIS, possible penalties include bans, fines or even subsequent disqualifications. The Norwegian broadcaster TV2 reported that the head coach Magnus Brevik and two assistants are facing 18-month bans. For the athletes, on the other hand, bans of three months would be proposed, according to broadcaster NRK. Lindvik and Forfang did not want to comment on the current developments in front of journalists at Geneva airport after the summer Grand Prix in Courchevel.

Lindvik had won gold on the normal hill. He and Forfang also won medals with the team and the mixed team. In the event of a disqualification, no Swiss athletes would move up the medal ranks.