World Curling has issued a new statement after meeting with team representatives at the Winter Olympic Games, confirming changes to its “stone monitoring protocol” starting with the evening session on 15 February. The update follows several tense matches and allegations of cheating.

Controversy first flared when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused Canada’s Marc Kennedy of double touching a stone during delivery. Kennedy denied the claim and responded angrily on the ice. The incident sparked debate about rule enforcement and sportsmanship.

Canada later faced additional accusations during a loss to Switzerland, while other matches also featured alleged double-touch infractions. The repeated disputes increased pressure on officials to clarify how deliveries would be monitored.

Previously, World Curling announced that two umpires would actively observe athlete deliveries for the remainder of the Olympic competition. That approach aimed to prevent further disagreements and ensure consistent rule application.

However, the governing body has now adjusted that plan. In its latest statement, World Curling confirmed that the two umpires will remain on the field of play but will only monitor deliveries at the request of competing teams.

When a request is made, the umpires will oversee deliveries for a minimum of three ends. This change shifts responsibility partly to the teams, allowing them to trigger closer scrutiny if concerns arise during a match.

The mid-Games adjustment, agreed upon with national Olympic committees, effectively refines the earlier policy of automatic monitoring across all games. Officials appear to be seeking a balance between oversight and maintaining the flow of competition.

As the tournament continues, attention remains on how the revised protocol will impact both gameplay and tensions between teams. With emotions already running high, the updated system will likely play a key role in restoring confidence and minimizing further controversy on the ice.