AP
Marie-Reine Le Gougne

Press reports in France say the French figure skating judge, suspended in the furor over voting in the pairs event, is a scapegoat for a corrupt system, but that judging in the sport needs an overhaul.

Sports Minister Marie-George Buffet said the French judge's Marie-Reine Le Gougne suspension for misconduct by the International Skating Union highlights the need to reflect on changes that will avoid a repeat of the scandal.

The French judge was suspended indefinitely Friday, after the ISU investigated allegations that she was pressured to vote the Russians first in the pairs competition, at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Her vote initially denied the Canadians Olympic gold, but the International Olympic Committee and ISU decided the Canadian pair would share the gold medal with the Russians.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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