Great Britain Curling Team Caught in Cheating Storm at Winter Olympics

The Great Britain curling team has been thrust into a growing cheating controversy at the Winter Olympic Games after officials penalized Bruce Mouat’s rink for a “double touch” violation during group-stage action on Sunday.

The incident adds to a turbulent week for Olympic curling, which has been overshadowed by a series of disputes and heated exchanges over alleged infractions on the ice. According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, tensions first erupted on Friday during a fiery clash between Canada and Sweden.

Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson repeatedly accused Canadian opponent Mark Kennedy of illegally touching the stone after delivery, a breach known as a “double touch.” 

The allegation prompted an angry reaction from Kennedy, who was captured on Swedish broadcaster SVT shouting: “I didn’t do it once… go to hell.”

The controversy soon spread to the women’s competition when Canadian skip Rachel Homan had a stone removed after an official ruled she had made illegal contact following release. 

In response to mounting disputes, the World Curling Federation deployed two roaming officials to monitor stone deliveries across all matches.

Great Britain became the latest team drawn into the row during the ninth end of their group-stage match against Germany. 

Bobby Lammie was accused of touching the stone after release. An umpire intervened, removing the delivered stone from play and instructing British skip Bruce Mouat to restore the German stone to its previous position. Lammie appeared stunned upon being informed of the violation.

BBC commentator Steve Cram described the moment on air, noting the unusual sight of officials closely shadowing the action. 

Fellow commentator and former Olympic curler Jackie Lockhart reacted with disbelief, saying: “Not again.” 

She clarified that while players may touch the handle multiple times before the stone reaches the hog line, contact with the granite itself constitutes a foul.

Despite the disruption, Great Britain, who were leading 7–4 at the time, maintained their composure and ultimately secured a 9–4 victory, with both teams shaking hands at the conclusion of the match.

Late Sunday, the World Curling Federation confirmed updated monitoring procedures following a meeting with national Olympic representatives. 

Under the revised protocol, the two designated officials will remain on the field of play but will only actively monitor deliveries upon request by competing teams, and for a minimum of three ends at a time.

Great Britain currently sit third in the men’s standings with four wins and two defeats, as the top four teams advance to the semi-finals. Canada, central to Friday’s explosive dispute, occupy second place.

With scrutiny intensifying and officials under pressure to ensure consistency, curling’s spirit of sportsmanship has been placed firmly under the Olympic spotlight.