The Finnish Olympic Committee and the Ski Association announced on Saturday that they have filed a protest regarding the men's Olympic sprint event. Finland claims that both the USA and Norway breached competition rules during the sprint contest held on Tuesday. The protest specifically addresses the events of the final, where Norwegian skier Johannes Kläbo secured victory ahead of American Ben Ogden and fellow countryman Oskari Vike, while Lauri Vuorinen finished in fourth place.

The United States allegedly brought a liquid-containing bottle to the service area during the sprint heats, an act that is against the regulations. Norway, on the other hand, was permitted to use an electric hot wax machine at the service area, but other countries were not informed of this special allowance. Bruno Sassi, the communication manager for FIS, confirmed to Ilta-Sanomat on Friday that the machine was not connected to the power grid at that time but was still warm during the heats, providing a significant advantage to the Norwegian team, as expert Harri Kirvesniemi pointed out.

This protest has ignited controversy and could have implications for the regulations governing future Olympic events, highlighting the fine line between legal and illegal aid in sporting competitions. With expert opinions emphasizing the advantage gained from the use of hot wax, this instance may trigger a wider discussion about fairness and transparency in international skiing competitions, particularly in light of the intense competition between national teams in the Winter Olympics.