The ongoing skiing scandal has escalated as Finland's skiing federation has formally requested FIS, the International Ski Federation, to conduct an independent investigation regarding irregularities associated with the men's sprint event at the recent Olympics. The federation expresses concerns about the fairness of the competition and the adherence to ethical standards, especially in light of apparent misconduct that has been publicly acknowledged by FIS. CEO Marleena Valtasola highlights that despite multiple inquiries, FIS has not provided a decision regarding Finland's protest against the actions of Norway and the USA, leading to frustration within the Finnish skiing community.

Valtasola points out that they interpret FIS's lack of response as an unwillingness to address the protest, which is particularly troubling given that FIS has admitted that mistakes occurred during the competition. The federation asserts that the timeframe for filing a protest should be considered as one month, contrary to previous public claims of a 48-hour limit, indicating a potential misunderstanding or misinformation in media reports. This highlights the need for clearer communication and expectations regarding competition regulations and procedures.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how FIS will respond to the request for an investigation and whether it will lead to any significant changes in the governance of ski competitions. The implications of this could affect athlete trust and the integrity of ski events, especially in competitive international settings, if issues related to fairness are not adequately addressed and rectified.