Canada curling team apologise after turning up drunk to competition
Tuesday 20 November 2018 14:43, UK
Olympic gold medallist Ryan Fry has apologised after his curling team were thrown out of a competition for being drunk and disorderly.
Fry, 40, qualified for the final at the Red Deer Curling Classic in Alberta along with team-mates Jamie Koe, Chris Schille and DJ Kidby.
However, the four were forced to forfeit their final game after they turned up drunk to the rink, swearing, breaking brooms and damaging the locker room.
Fry was part of the Canadian team that beat Great Britain's curlers in the Sochi 2014 curling tournament final.
"[It was] unacceptable behaviour that nobody wants to watch or hear or listen to and it was just 'enough was enough,'" Red Deer Curling Centre facility manager Wade Thurber told CBC.
The committee received a wave of complaints from fans and opponents which left them with no choice but to disqualify Fry and his teammates.
"I wish nothing more than to apologise to everyone individually," Fry said in a statement.
"I will strive to become a better version of myself while contributing positively to the sport and curling community that I love so much."
Jamie Koe took to social media to apologise for the incident, although he did not take part in the tournament.
"We were disrespectful and the committee was right to disqualify us from further play which we did not argue," Koe said.
"I would like to sincerely apologise to the athletes, fans and organizers at the event. I will be taking steps to ensure this never happens again."
