Lara Gut-Bahrami fears sabotage: banning flour in skating jeopardizes equal opportunities

Instead of the planned maximum control value of 1.0, officials at the World Skating Association want to increase the limit value of the measurements to 1.8 by December 31, thus preventing a number of possible disqualifications due to the increased flour value.

In preparation for the new season, measuring devices repeatedly showed incorrect results, which raised doubts among many athletes and officials.

Although the limit has been increased, they are still skeptical. The risk of skis being vandalized with flour wax by other people before competition remains high.

Above all, Gut-Berahme sees equal opportunities at the World Cup at risk. “The pressure on the service personnel is increasing,” said the Ticino canton woman. “Because if I ski down a good slope but lose half a second, what should the service man say? I did not make a mistake, but maybe others did?”

Uncertainty is the worst thing: “If every time I think it’s because others are still using it, it won’t be good,” the speed specialist explains.

Gut Berhme also believes that the implementation of controls and penalties for violating the rules is not sufficiently organized. For the Swiss, only clear regulation will make sense. She added: “It only goes through the legal level. It’s either everyone or no one. If you cheat, you’re committing a criminal offense – and no one wants that, of course.”

Finally, the Olympic Super-G champion had a suggestion for more security against vandalism in the run-up to the race: “Maybe the service personnel should sleep in the room with the skis,” the 32-year-old said.