Patrick Fischer suspended by IIHF for falsified COVID-19 certificate

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has suspended former Swiss national team coach Patrick Fischer for four years. The sanction follows Fischer’s admission that he used a falsified COVID-19 vaccination certificate to bypass travel restrictions for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The suspension prohibits Fischer from coaching any national team until 2030. However, the ban does not currently extend to club-level hockey. Fischer, a highly successful coach who led Switzerland to three World Championship silver medals, was dismissed by the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF) following public pressure after he admitted to the forgery earlier this year.

Fischer previously faced legal consequences in Switzerland, including a fine of nearly 39,000 Swiss francs for document forgery. He may face further disciplinary action as Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) continues its own investigation into the matter, which could potentially result in a broader ban including club coaching.