Brush Manufacturer accuses Grand Slam teams of unfairly targetting their Firm Foam 2 Product.
On Thursday, BalancePlus of Barrie, Ontario, came out firing with their response to the letter released ahead of the WFG Masters in Guelph, where the majority of teams agreed to a statement regarding foam inserts inside curling brushes.
BalancePlus accuses their sponsored team, skipped by John Epping, of being unfairly singled out as part of the process.
"BalancePlus continues to be committed to advancing the sport of curling through innovation, integrity, transparency and adherence to the rules and standards set forth by governing bodies," stated BalancePlus in the press release posted to their website.
"The proposal unfairly excluded Team Epping, despite them being directly affected, and was endorsed by teams with clear conflicts of interest."
"The information in the proposal is largely inaccurate. Some teams and athletes declined to put their name to the document and some athletes were surprised that such a document publicly exists with their team's name on it."
"John Epping and his team have demonstrated unwavering integrity and sportsmanship. They have been unfairly targeted by initiatives that prioritize brand competition over the spirit of curling. We commend their professionalism in navigating this challenging situation."
And here’s the other side! Team John Epping and BalancePlus deserve an apology. STOP the Bullying. #bebetterhttps://t.co/vdjMts3Xu6
"We advocate for inclusive discussions that represent all voices, including those of teams who have been directly affected. What we have witnessed in the past couple of days is far from inclusive."
"At BalancePlus, we pride ourselves on being associated with teams that embody honesty, sportsmanship, and fair play. The true spirit of curling should always be about competition based on skill and respect, not corporate agendas or dishonest practices. We continue to stand by our products and values. Our focus is on upholding the integrity of the sport and ensuring that the future of curling remains fair and open to all."
John Epping very emotional over what’s transpired over the last 48 hours.
They switched their brooms out for this week’s Slam to “comply” with other curlers here.
Take a listen to what Epping had to say after an opening defeat to Jacobs here in Guelph. pic.twitter.com/95tFuTLjFn
Play continues at the WFG Masters in Guelph with round-robin play finishing Friday.
Quarterfinals go on Saturday with the championship finals going on Sunday.
Games can be watched on Sportsnet, or through the HomeTeamNetwork coverage of all games. Click on the red play button on CurlingZone's scoreboard to access each game.
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