Chinese Ice Dancers Under Probe After Holding Toy Missile during Competition
ISU officials are conducting an investigation following two Chinese figure skaters were seen holding what looked like a replica weapon at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage captured Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting with a sizable prop shaped like a rocket labeled “DF-61” while waiting for their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
The DF-61 is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based long-range weapon designed for carrying nuclear weapons, that had been displayed at a military parade recently.
“The ISU have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy appears to have been among those thrown on to 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 held by the athletes who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing finished in eighth place of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.
