Chinese Ice Dancers Under Investigation After Holding Prop Weapon at Competition
ISU officials have launched an investigation after two Chinese ice dancers were seen with an object resembling a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage showed the skaters waiting alongside a large toy in the form of a rocket marked “DF-61” while waiting for the judges' results in the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.
This model is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile capable of transporting atomic warheads, which was displayed during a national ceremony last month.
Officials have acknowledged that an inappropriate plush item seems to have been among those tossed onto the ice by spectators after a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the organization stated via a release.
“The soft toy was then handled by the skaters after their performance. We regrets this occurrence and will investigate further.”
Ren and Xing placed in eighth place out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair from the US.
