Petter Northug, a 40-year-old Norwegian skier, created controversy during a team sprint race at the Norwegian championships. He pushed competitor Edvard Sandvik, causing Sandvik to fall off the track. Experts in Norway, including TV2 expert Petter Skinstad, called for Northug to be disqualified, describing the incident as one of the biggest scandals in Norwegian skiing history.
However, the jury chief, Torbjörn Broks Pettesen, defended the decision not to disqualify Northug, stating that while the move did not look good on TV, Northug was trying to defend his position in the track. Northug himself said he did nothing wrong, arguing that Sandvik tried to cut in where there was only five centimeters of space and that he needed to show it was his track. Sandvik escaped without serious injuries but reported hurting his buttocks.
while the move did not look good on TV, Northug was trying to defend his position in the track
Northug competed with his brother Even, and they won gold in the team sprint, but a protest has been filed over the push, and the duo could be disqualified.
I did nothing wrong, arguing that Sandvik tried to cut in where there was only five centimeters of space and that I needed to show it was my track