IIHF bans Patrick Fischer for using fake vaccination certificate at Beijing Olympics
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 10, 2026, 3:20 PM
Last updated Sep 10, 2026

The International Ice Hockey Federation handed a four-year ban to former Swiss national team coach Patrick Fischer. The disciplinary action follows Fischer's use of an invalid Covid-19 vaccination certificate to enter China for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Fischer admitted to the violation before the world championship tournament this past May, leading the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation to part ways with him under public pressure. The coach stated he acted alone to avoid letting his team down after deciding not to be vaccinated. Although the Swiss federation initially declined to impose sanctions citing his personal legal proceedings, the global governing body's ruling now prevents him from coaching any team until 2030. Fischer served as Switzerland's head coach since 2015 and led the team to three world championship silver medals during his tenure.
- •Patrick Fischer received a four-year suspension from the IIHF.
- •The coach used a fake vaccination certificate to enter China for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
- •The ban prevents Fischer from coaching until 2030.
- •Swiss officials dismissed Fischer in May following his admission of the rules violation.
- •Fischer coached the Swiss national team to world championship silver medals in 2018, 2024, and 2025.
- 3:20 PMYahoo Sports — Ex-Switzerland coach banned over fake Covid vaccination certificate
"Former Swiss men's ice hockey national team coach Patrick Fischer has been banned for four years by the world governing body IIHF for going to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing with a fake coronavirus vaccination certificate. The IIHF confirmed an according report from Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) on Thursday.
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