The International Skating Union (ISU) is shocked by the announcement by U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors of the arrest of a Russian citizen on charges of conspiring to fix the results of the Ice Dance and Pair skating events during the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The ISU had no previous knowledge of the named individual or his alleged activities. His name was not mentioned in the extensive investigation into this matter conducted by the ISU.

As an international sports federation, the ISU has only limited investigative powers. Nevertheless, after an extensive inquiry, commenced in Salt Lake City during the Olympic Winter Games, and two full days of hearings on April 29-30 in Lausanne, the ISU Council imposed sanctions for misconduct in connection with the judging of the Figure Skating Pairs event upon Mr. Didier Gailhaguet, President of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG), and at that time ISU Council member, as well as Ms. Marie-Reine Le Gougne, a French judge officiating at that event.

Identical disciplinary sanctions of three years suspension from all ISU activity, including the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, were decided upon by the Council and announced on April 30, 2002 in Lausanne.

As authorized by the ISU Constitution, Ms. Le Gougne appealed her sanction to the ISU Appeals Commission, an independent five-person appellate body. Ms. Le Gougne thereafter, on 25 July, 2002, dismissed her appeal. Mr. Gailhaguet decided not to appeal.

The ISU will closely follow the U.S. criminal charges and cooperate with all law enforcement authorities. The ISU will formally ask the relevant authorities to make available any information and/or evidence related to possible misconduct of skating officials, officers, athletes or Member federations. Any such new evidence will be carefully reviewed to determine if initiation of further ISU disciplinary actions are appropriate.

Since this case relates to the results reached at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the ISU will keep close contact and will fully cooperate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In addition to the investigation and sanctions started at the Olympic Winter Games and concluded in Lausanne on April 30, 2002, at the 2002 ISU Congress held in early June in Kyoto, Japan, significant proposals for changes in the Figure Skating Judging System were accepted for immediate implementation. Also confirmed was a specific and revolutionary new judging system project to be tested for efficacy and future implementation under the supervision of the ISU Council. The first test of these changes will take place early September 2002.

Ottavio Cinquanta		Fredi Schmid
President			General Secretary

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