Feb 8 • 15:35 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Iltalehti

Comment: Russia should have received a medal - The referee's decision is outrageous

The author argues that Russia was unfairly denied an Olympic medal due to a controversial referee decision during the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The article critiques the decision made by skiing judges at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, stating that France's Mathis Desloges should have faced disqualification for a rule violation. Desloges is accused of ski course misconduct by cutting a corner, which allegedly provided him with a time advantage of a few seconds. This decision has significant implications for the fairness of the race results, as Desloges ultimately finished second, edging out Norway's Martin Nyenget by just 0.1 seconds, while Russia's Savelii Korosteljov placed fourth, missing out on a medal.

The piece highlights the inconsistency in the application of the International Ski Federation's (FIS) rules, arguing that the judges must consider whether a rule violation impacts the final results—notably, in this case, the infraction did appear to influence the race outcome. The author posits that many observers view the decision as unjust, especially since it robbed Russian athletes of the opportunity for Olympic recognition. This sentiment reflects broader concerns about fairness and transparency in sports competitions.

In the context of Olympic integrity and enforcement of rules, the author emphasizes that not disqualifying Desloges undermines the credibility of the officiating process. The article concludes by calling attention to the need for stricter adherence to competition rules to ensure fair play for all athletes, regardless of their national affiliation.

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