Winter Olympics - ‘Biggest scandal in our sport’ - Nils van der Poel says ice controversy ‘as bad as doping’

Swedish champion Nils van der Poel has slammed the Dutch speed skating team for allegedly trying to manipulate the ice at Beijing 2022, calling it “the biggest scandal in our sport”. Van der Poel, who won gold in the men’s 5000m on Monday, was unhappy to learn that Dutch sports scientist Sander van Ginkel was in Beijing looking to make the ice as hard as possible. Ad/> Van Ginkel has said in an article in Schaatsen.nl that he is in Beijing to measure the temperature of the ice and try to influence the ice manager at the venue, Canadian Mark Messer.

Dutch skaters typically thrive on a hard ice, and Van Ginkel said: «I try to create as favourable conditions as possible for our skaters.» Beijing 2022Olympic records tumble as Nuis retains 1500m speed skating titleYESTERDAY AT 12:08 His comments have sparked a major controversy in the world of speed skating. “I want to say I have the biggest respect for the Dutch speed skaters and the ice makers in the oval but we have to discuss fair play in our sport and this is far from fair play, this is corruption," said Van der Poel. “Trying to make things advantage you by using unethical methods, I can't understand why the Dutch speed skating federation can let this happen and I don't understand why they want the world to know it.

“It's embarrassing not only for the federation but also for the riders. This is the biggest scandal in our sport. We've had doping cases and I don't see this as less serious.” Van der Poel, whose victory interview with Eurosport was interrupted by the Swedish Prime Minister on Monday, went on to explain why it was such a big issue.