China's Figure Skaters Face Probe After Holding Prop Weapon during Event
The International Skating Union are conducting a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at a grand prix figure skating event.
Television video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing sitting with a sizable prop shaped like a rocket labeled “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results in the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.
This model represents a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile capable of transporting atomic warheads, which was unveiled at a military parade last month.
“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item appears to have been among those tossed onto the ice by audience members following a performance during the competition,” the organization commented via a release.
“The soft toy was subsequently handled by the athletes who had just performed. We apologizes for the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
The duo placed eighth out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.
