Olympic Curling Controversy Explained: Why Sweden Accused Canada of Cheating
Curling rarely grabs Olympic headlines for drama, but that changed during the 2026 Winter Olympics curling competition after a heated exchange between Sweden and Canada.
What began as a routine round-robin match quickly turned into a full-blown Olympic curling controversy, with Sweden accusing Canada of cheating.
The accusation centered on a delivery by Canadian curler Marc Kennedy during Canada’s 8 - 6 win over Sweden.
The Swedish players alleged that Kennedy illegally touched his stone after releasing it, an action they said should have resulted in the stone being removed from play.
Sweden Accuses Canada of Cheating
The dispute revolved around the curling double touch rule, which governs how players release a stone. In curling, the athletes must release the stone before it crosses the hog line.
They’re allowed to adjust the handle up to that point, but, once it's released, touching the granite portion of the stone again isn't allowed.
During the match, Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson claimed he saw Kennedy’s finger brush the stone after its release. Video clips later circulated online that appeared to show very brief contact, prompting Eriksson to raise the issue with officials.
According to Sweden, this contact should have been ruled illegal under curling regulations.
Canada’s Response And On-Ice Reaction
Canada firmly rejected the accusation. Kennedy denied any wrongdoing and reacted angrily on the ice, using very strong language with Eriksson.
Officials reviewed the situation in real time and declined to penalize Canada, citing that referee calls are final and video replay isn’t used to overturn decisions during play.
While no cheating penalty was assessed, officials did issue a warning to the Canadian team regarding the language they used during the confrontation.
The incident quickly became known as the Marc Kennedy cheating allegation, even though no rule violation was formally confirmed.
Reaction From Other Curlers
The controversy drew reactions from teams beyond Sweden and Canada.
American curler Korey Dropkin said the accusation went too far, noting that minor stone contact has long existed in curling and is often unintentional.
Curling has traditionally relied on player honesty and sportsmanship, rather than constant surveillance.
Reuters also reported that Canada’s women’s team faced a separate stone contact ruling during the Games, which added fuel to the debate about consistency and enforcement.
How Officials Adjusted Going Forward
In response to the uproar, World Curling initially increased its official oversight at the hog line for subsequent matches.
After feedback from the teams, officials then scaled back, allowing additional monitoring only when necessary.
But, the episode has sparked broader conversations about officiating standards, technology use, and whether curling’s self-policing traditions still work at the Olympic level.
A Rare Flashpoint In A Polite Sport
While the accusation didn’t change the outcome of the match, it exposed tension beneath curling’s reputation as a polite sport.
High stakes, tight rules, and global scrutiny can turn even subtle moments into flashpoints.
For fans, the situation offered a rare look at how Olympic curling rules are enforced and why disagreements can escalate quickly on the world’s biggest stage.
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