The Finnish Ski Association, along with the Olympic Committee, has submitted a formal protest to the International Ski Federation (FIS) claiming that the Norwegian and USA teams have engaged in acts of cheating concerning their waxing techniques during the classic sprints. According to Finnish officials, the rule breaches potentially affected the outcomes of these competitions, leading them to demand a revision of the results from Tuesday's men’s classic sprint final, which could result in Lauri Vuorinen being awarded an Olympic gold medal.

In their protest, the Finnish representatives allege that the Norwegian and American teams violated FIS regulations regarding the application of wax for the races. Specifically, they assert that there was a failure on the part of the FIS to intervene in what they perceive as a clear infraction. Additionally, following a women’s 10 km individual start freestyle race, suspicions were raised about the Norwegian team, with reports from Norwegian broadcasting corporation NRK suggesting that competitors had concerns over the tactics employed by Norway in preparing their equipment.

This situation exemplifies the intense rivalry and scrutiny within the sport, particularly as Olympic competitions approach. The potential awarding of Lauri Vuorinen as a gold medalist underlines not only the stakes involved in these disputes but also the rigorous standards expected of teams in terms of compliance with competitive regulations. The outcome of this protest by the Finnish Ski Association and its implications for the teams involved could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future within the world of competitive skiing.