China's Ice Dancers Under Probe Following Displaying Toy Missile at Event
ISU officials have launched a formal inquiry after two Chinese figure skaters were seen holding an object resembling a replica weapon at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing sitting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a rocket marked “DF-61” while waiting for their scores in the “kiss and cry” area during the event.
This model is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile designed for carrying nuclear weapons, which was unveiled during a national ceremony recently.
Officials have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been one of the objects tossed onto the ice by audience members after a routine during the competition,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.
The item was then handled by the skaters after their performance. We regrets this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing placed eighth of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, with the victory going to Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.
