China's Ice Dancers Under Probe Following Holding Prop Weapon during Competition
The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese figure skaters appeared with what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Television video captured the skaters sitting alongside a large toy shaped like a missile labeled “DF-61” while waiting for their scores in the “kiss and cry” area during the event.
This model represents a recently introduced China-produced ground-launched long-range weapon capable of transporting atomic warheads, that had been unveiled during a national ceremony last month.
“The ISU have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy appears to have been among those thrown on to the rink by audience members after a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU commented via a release.
The item was then handled by the athletes who had just performed. We regrets this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo placed in eighth place of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, with the victory going to the American pair from the US.
