Canada’s curling stars deny cheating at Winter Games, but the ‘double-touch’ row has shaken their image

Canadian curling stars are facing scrutiny and accusations of cheating at the Winter Games following multiple incidents involving the controversial “double-touch” maneuver. As reported by BBC News, the dispute has prompted rule clarifications and intense debate over sportsmanship.

The controversy centers on “double-touching,” which occurs when a player touches the stone a second time after releasing it down the ice. World Curling clarified that touching the granite while it is in forward motion is not permitted, and any stone affected in that way must be removed from play.

The issue surfaced on Friday during a men’s match between Canada and Sweden. Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of committing the violation, and a video circulated that appeared to show Kennedy making contact with the stone after release.

The double-touch accusations have escalated across multiple teams

Kennedy responded with an expletive-filled outburst and received a verbal warning from World Curling for his language, not for cheating. The row has played out amid the Hyatt chairman’s resignation. He later said he could have handled the exchange better, but maintained the accusations were false and suggested his team may have been targeted.

“I’ve curled my whole life, never once with the intention of getting an advantage through cheating,” Kennedy said. He insisted the accusations were untrue and framed the incident as a response to what he believed was an unfair charge.

The following day, Canada’s women’s team faced a similar situation during a match against Switzerland. Officials ruled that captain Rachel Homan had committed a double-touch violation, and her stone was removed from play. Canada went on to lose 8-7.

Homan criticized the ruling, calling it “insane” and insisting there was a “zero percent chance” she had committed any violation. The decision drew frustration from Canadian supporters, particularly given the country’s longstanding success in the sport and reputation for fair play.

Reaction at home has been mixed. Alberta tourist Tim Gray described it as a “sad day for Canadian sport” and said integrity should matter even if players must call violations on themselves. Another Canadian, Samar, said the situation clashes with expectations of how Canadian teams conduct themselves.

Others have taken a more measured view. Ankara Leonard, a curling instructor at the Royal Montreal Curling Club, said the publicity could generate interest in the sport while acknowledging the importance of adhering to the rules. She also said she did not believe Kennedy’s finger affected the stone.

The controversy has not been limited to Canada. On Sunday, Great Britain’s men’s team saw curler Bobby Lammie have a stone removed after a similar accusation. World Curling does not use video review for these calls, and the situation has unfolded amid Discord’s age verification partner. It has since assigned two officials to closely monitor stone releases in subsequent matches.