FIS deploys undercover “spies” at ski jumps to catch suit manipulation after Trondheim scandal

In response to the suit-manipulation scandal that marred the March 2025 Ski Jumping World Championships in Trondheim, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has added a new layer of enforcement at competitions: undercover controllers.

FIS equipment inspector Mathias Hafele explained to TVP Sport that incognito officials—described informally as “spies”—now operate around the ski jumping facilities. “They can stand anywhere, even in the crowd. You don’t know when they’re watching, but they are,” Hafele said. He added that the mere possibility of being observed should deter attempts to alter equipment, and that the first penalties based on these observations have already been issued.

The controversy in Trondheim involved Norwegian jumpers, whose approved suits were reportedly altered via embedded strings and manipulated chips to pass controls yet behave differently in competition. The Norwegian team was ultimately disqualified from the large hill event, and Marius Lindvik lost his silver medal.

Looking ahead, the 2025/26 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup season is set to begin on Friday, 21 November, in Lillehammer, Norway. The calendar features 30 individual events, three team competitions, and two mixed events, with the season finale scheduled for 29 March in Planica, Slovenia.