NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Finnish ski jumpers will have to navigate the rest of the Cortina Olympics in Milan 2026 without head coach Igor Medved.
The coach’s removal from the Games centered on what officials described Thursday as an alcohol-related problem.
The Finnish Olympic Committee added that Medved’s behavior was in violation of the team’s conduct policies.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
The Olympic rings stand near Anterselva di Sopra (Antholz Obertal), which will host the biathlon competition at the Sudtirol Arena Alto Adige, as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, in Anterselva Di Mezzo, Italy, on January 31, 2026. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)
Other details surrounding the incident that led to Medved being sent home were not immediately made available.
FINLAND’S OLYMPIC WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM POSTPONEES GAME AS PLAYERS DEAL WITH NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK
Finland’s Wille Karhumaa jumps during the ski jumping test round of the Nordic combined individual Gundersen normal hill/10 km event at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium in Predazzo (Val di Fiemme) during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on February 11, 2026. (Javier SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
“Medved went home today. The case concerns issues related to alcohol use. We take violations of team rules very seriously and reacted quickly to the situation,” Finnish team manager Janne Hanninen said in a statement.
Medved admitted he had made a mistake and apologized, saying: “I made a mistake and I’m very sorry. I want to apologize to the whole Finnish team, the athletes and also the fans.”
Ilkka Herola of Team Finland jumps in the Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Normal Hill/10 km ski jumping trial on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Finnish Ski Federation CEO Marleena Valtasola said the organization will review Medved’s position ahead of future Olympics.
“An unpleasant situation has arisen: alcohol was consumed in violation of team rules,” Valtasola said. “We have decided that Medved will not take part in the Olympics. The other issues will be discussed with him after the Games. Now it is important to ensure the concentration of the athletes and restore serenity to the team and to Igor.”
She added: “We have a solid staff in place and we are confident that we can handle the situation in the best possible way.”
Medved was appointed head coach of the Finnish team in June 2024.
