China's Ice Dancers Face Probe Following Holding Prop Weapon at Competition
The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen holding an object resembling a toy ballistic missile at a grand prix figure skating event.
Broadcast video showed the skaters waiting alongside a large toy shaped like a rocket marked “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results in the “kiss and cry” area during the event.
The DF-61 is 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.
Officials have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item appears to have been one of the objects tossed onto the rink by audience members after a routine during the competition,” the ISU commented in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was then handled by the athletes who had just performed. We apologizes for the incident and will investigate further.”
Ren and Xing finished in eighth place out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair from the US.
