GB accused of cheating as skinsuit row hots up
TEAM GB’S skinsuit row erupted yesterday as their rivals accused Britain’s skeleton sliders of using kit that gives them an unfair advantage.
Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that several nations were questioning the legality of the game-changing suits which have helped Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold, Laura Deas and Dom Parsons dominate training runs.
The row ratcheted up a notch with the USA’s ex-world champion Katie Uhlaender calling for clarity on whether the suits are legal.
The suits, developed by the English Institute of Sport using technology pioneered by TotalSim in Northampton, are said to feature drag-resistant ridges that improve aerodynamics. However, international skeleton rules stipulate ‘no aerodynamic elements whatsoever may be attached either outside or under the race suit’.
Team GB’s lawyer has held discussions about the kit with organisers at least twice but the matter was raised again at the men’s captains’ meeting last night and the British Olympic Association issued a statement to insist their suits were compliant.
The skinsuits were then given official approval by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. But the storm has raged on with Uhlaender saying: ‘If you see something that is ques- tionably illegal, it is OK to ask.
‘In this case it’s not in a race, it’s outside of that and so I’d rather ask the question now than during the race, just get it out of the way and make sure everyone is on a fair playing field. I have no idea but I am curious to know if they are going to look into it.
‘What else can I do? I just asked the question. I guess it was answered, I just want to know can the rest of us do the same thing?’
Uhlaender said she had attempted to use a similar suit but was told it was illegal, only for the goalposts to move for Team GB. She also cited the cuttingedge helmet Brit Amy Williams used in winning gold in 2010.
She said: ‘I’m not a scientist, I just know that I was trying to get a suit of the same quality and was told it was illegal, and now it’s legal. It’s like Amy’s helmet in 2010. Amy is one of my best friends and I have the utmost respect for her — I couldn’t have been more proud when she won — but that helmet was illegal based on what I saw in the rules. I don’t know what else to say except, “huh?”.’
USA Bobsled and Skeleton CEO Darrin Steele said: ‘The rules are clear, there can’t be any aerodynamic elements attached to the suit and we don’t expect to see any on British speedsuits in the race. Athletes from various nations are talking about British suits instead of focusing on upcoming races.’
Parsons has drawn particular attention. He is world No 12 but was fastest in two of the first four training runs for today’s first heat.
Team captains were due to meet last night to discuss the situation. A BOA statement issued in response read: ‘We are confident that all competition equipment meets the technical and commercial requirements for every sport and discipline.’
The suits could yet help Britain make their breakthrough at these Games after failure to win a medal so far. Team GB boss Mike Hay has admitted they need to find momentum in the wake of Elise Christie crashing out of the 500m speed skating final if they are to hit their target of five medals.
‘It would have been great to have got a great start,’ he said. ‘We need a little bit of momentum to run through the team. It gives people the belief. The medal target is hard — it was tough in the first place. I’m still confident we’ve got athletes to take us there.’
JAMAICA’S women’s Winter Olympics bobsleigh debut is in doubt after their coach quit and threatened to take the team’s sled.
German Sandra Kiriasis, an exOlympic champion, wants payment for the sled but the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation has declined and disputes that she owns it.
The women’s bobsleigh heats start next Tuesday.