International Skating Union Sets News Conference
VOA News
13 Feb 2002 16:51 UTC
The international body that oversees figure skating has called a press conference later Wednesday to discuss the controversial Olympic pairs figure skating competition. In the event, Russian skaters won a narrow, but hotly disputed, victory over two skaters from Canada.
The International Skating Union says it is doing an "internal assessment" to see if judges at the event followed proper rules and procedures.
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Jamie Sale and David Pelletier
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Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the gold over Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, shocking television commentators and many in the crowd. Boos rained down from the crowd when the results were announced.
The Russian skaters received votes from five of the nine judges - from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, France, and China. Judges from Canada, the United States, Germany, and Japan voted for the Canadian skaters.
Canada's skating association called for an investigation of the voting and said it may launch its own probe.
Soviet and Russian skaters have won 11 straight gold medals in pairs figure skating, dating back to 1964.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
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