World ice dancing champions Barbara Fusar Poli and Maurizio Margaglio of Italy have criticized new International Skating Union regulations that punish skaters who use sexually-suggestive poses in their routines.

Under new guidelines issued by figure skating's world governing body this season, skaters have been told to clean up their acts or face penalties that could ruin their medal hopes at Salt Lake City. The Skating Union says they made the change because of a large number of complaints about "undignified" displays on the ice. But Fusar Poli and Margaglio believe the rule changes are a form of censorship. Fusar Poli says she considers her sport to be an art and points out that they "skate in an ice rink and not in a church."

The Olympic ice dancing competition begins on February 15 with the compulsory dances. That will be followed by the original dance two days later and the free skating final on February 18.

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

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