Swiss ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer has confessed to utilizing a falsified vaccination certificate to bypass China’s travel restrictions during the 2022 Winter Olympics. In a statement issued on Monday, Fischer acknowledged making a “serious error” by traveling to Beijing with the Swiss men’s team using fraudulent documentation.
Expressing regret over potentially disappointing individuals, Fischer explained that he faced a personal dilemma due to his reluctance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite his personal stance, he felt compelled to support his team at the Olympics.
Swiss public broadcaster SRF revealed that Fischer had been fined approximately 39,000 Swiss francs ($50,000 US) by local authorities in 2023 for forging documents after purchasing the certificate on social media. Fischer admitted to the wrongdoing following the broadcaster’s confrontation.
With Switzerland set to host the world championship next month, Fischer had already planned to step down from his role. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation indicated that it considers the issue resolved.
Fischer, renowned as one of Switzerland’s most accomplished hockey coaches, has led the team since 2015, guiding them through multiple Olympic appearances and securing three silver medals at the world championship. During the 2022 Olympics, his team advanced to the quarterfinals amid stringent COVID-19 testing requirements and the absence of NHL participation due to the pandemic.
Leading up to the 2022 Olympics, China enforced rigorous COVID-19 protocols, mandating that athletes entering the Games must be vaccinated or undergo a three-week quarantine in a hotel, as exemplified by Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer.
As of now, the International Olympic Committee has not provided a response to requests for comment.