China's Figure Skaters Under Investigation Following Holding Prop Weapon during Competition
ISU officials have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen holding an object resembling a toy ballistic missile during an international skating competition.
Broadcast video showed the skaters sitting alongside a large toy in the form of a rocket labeled “DF-61” while waiting for their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
This model represents a new China-produced ground-launched intercontinental ballistic missile designed for transporting atomic warheads, that had been displayed during a national ceremony last month.
“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been one of the objects tossed onto the rink by audience members following a performance during the competition,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.
The item was then held by the skaters after their performance. We regrets this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo placed eighth out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair from the US.
