The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) reported this Wednesday that an unaccredited member of Canada's support staff was detained by French authorities for flying a drone over New Zealand's training facilities. The New Zealand committee had previously filed a complaint with the police, which led to the clarification of the facts.

The convicted individual is named Joseph Lombardi, a technical analyst who is part of the Canadian setup but does not have official accreditation for the Paris Olympic Games. Lombardi admitted to using the drone to capture the opposing coach's instructions. "I acknowledge that my actions were a serious breach of ethics. I deeply regret compromising the integrity of the competition and apologise to everyone affected," he stated in his declaration.

The prosecutor of Saint Etienne handling the case, David Charmatz, sentenced the accused to eight months in prison, although without incarceration. Charmatz explained that examination of the drone showed that, in addition to recording the New Zealand team on Monday, it had also done so two days earlier at another stadium in the area. The sentence also includes the confiscation of the drone.

In response to the incident, the COC decided yesterday to expel Lombardi from the Canadian Olympic team and send him back to Canada immediately. The same measures have been taken with assistant coach Jasmine Mander, who received the espionage report. Although Mander denied any involvement in the matter and was cleared of complicity, the COC processed her disassociation to maintain trust in the team, the integrity of the sport, and its ethical standards.

In response to the scandal, head coach Bev Priestman, who led the team to gold in Tokyo 2020, decided to voluntarily step away from the bench for the first match against New Zealand taking place this afternoon. "Although I did not personally direct the actions of those involved, as head coach, I am responsible for the team's behaviour. I apologise to the players and staff of New Zealand. This situation does not reflect the values we uphold," Priestman declared, assuming responsibility.

For their part, the COC emphasised that despite the incident, the team has been transparent and cooperative during the investigations. Additionally, the staff will undergo mandatory training in sports ethics. "Transparency and cooperation have been key throughout this process. We will continue to review the situation and take further action if necessary," said a spokesperson for the organisation.

Carla Qualtrough, Canadian Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, also commented on this uncomfortable episode. "Fair play is the highest principle in sport. I fully support the sanctions and Coach Priestman's decision to step aside for the first match. These decisions are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the game and respecting the Olympic spirit," Qualtrough wrote on social media.

The scandal has also affected the atmosphere within the Canadian team just before their crucial match against New Zealand. Defender Vanessa Gilles commented on the situation, saying, "Obviously, it’s not ideal to enter such an important tournament under these circumstances. However, we are professionals and are committed to doing our best. We will support each other and focus on the match."