– That Mowinckel’s move is crazy, but right, wrote Jørgen Graabak on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday evening. Then the 32-year-old with four Olympic gold medals in combined reading had an interview with Ragnhild Mowinckel on news.no, where the alpinist spoke for the first time about the disqualification in Sölden after the reason became known. In the Alpine World Cup opening, she was the first victim of the newly introduced ban on fluorine-containing lubrication. – As of now, it is not possible to distinguish between contaminated equipment and someone who has used fluoride with an overlay. One is left with a feeling that the system is not quite right, said Mowinckel in the interview. Earlier in the week, her equipment supplier, Head, sent out a press release with the headline “lubricant responsible for Mowinckel’s positive fluoride test”. More precisely, the fluorine must have come from a contaminated cork. – Must be black and white In the press release, Head’s racing manager Rainer Salzgeber emphasizes that Mowinckel had no fault in the case. – That is what I find most frustrating about this case. Why should a contaminated tool be enough for a disqualification? In this case, it has already been proven that what is lubricated on my skis by the greaser is fluorine-free lubrication. Then I think it’s sad that you have a system that doesn’t take that into account, said Mowinckel. MEDAL MAN: No combined runner has had greater Olympic success than Jørgen Graabak. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Jørgen Graabak also thinks it’s sad that she was washed up. Nevertheless, he supports the decision. – She expresses a desire for a system that takes account of the fact that the fluorine on her skis came from a cork that was used to lubricate skis. Then you move into an area that makes it extremely difficult to have a test system that works, because then you not only have to test where the lubrication comes from, but also to a certain extent what the intention behind the lubrication is, he says to news. – So why do you think it was right that she did not get a result in the competition? – Yes, when there is to be a ban, it must be such that if you have fluoride under your skis, you are out. It almost has to be a bit black and white, says Graabak. – What does one risk if one increases the limit value and allows a little more? – You can end up in a situation where some crooks take the chance to use a little fluoride, but stay a little below the limit value to get an advantage. It will be an unnecessary temptation to have there. DISQUALIFIED: Here Ragnhild Mowinckel drives in the world cup opening in Sölden with illegal amounts of fluoride under her ski soles. Photo: Alessandro Trovati / AP – Coming to catch those who cheat Graabak admits that he was longer skeptical about the fluoride ban, because he feared it would be difficult to enforce. Recently, he has received reports from the combined runners’ own lubrication team that the tests can now be trusted. He sees the fact that Ragnhild Mowinckel was drawn as proof that the tests actually work. – Yes, of course. It seems that it works, and then it will have some unfortunate consequences for some. They will catch those who cheat, and then maybe someone will be unlucky and get fluoride on their equipment without knowledge and will, says Graabak. Knowing full well that the same fate may befall him in the near future. – It will be incredibly bitter, but it is part of the game, he states. Stein Olav Snesrud is the coordinator for fluorine-free lubrication in the Ski Association. For him, what happened to Ragnhild Mowinckel in Sölden is horror itself. – It gives us a little wake-up call. We will be very careful that we check all skis and all equipment in the days before competitions, he says to news. VEKKJAR: Stein Olav Snesrud is leading the Skiing Association’s efforts to prevent the transition to fluorine-free lubrication from causing problems. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Strict routines Snesrud points out that there is no national lubrication team in alpine skiing, but that the athletes have their skis lubricated by their ski manufacturers. Therefore, he feels more confident that the same thing will not happen in cross-country skiing, combined or biathlon. All equipment must be cleaned and tested there. And what could not be cleaned is thrown away and replaced. Jørgen Graabak also feels reasonably confident and trusts that the buttermen of the combined team are in control. Among other things, they have bought a test machine. – There are very strict protocols that are now being introduced to avoid getting fluoride in, because it tends to spread a bit. It will almost be like there will be stricter safety procedures in the lubrication trailers than there are at Gardermoen now, I think, he says.
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Jørgen Graabak afraid of thugs – that’s why he supports Mowinckel disk – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
