Breakaway Group Condemned by ISU

The International Skating Union condemned the upstart World Skating Federation, calling the splinter group’s decision to announce its formation during last week’s World Figure Skating Championships “unjustified and an abuse of the most prestigious figure skating event in the world.”

Many of the WSF’s founders and backers are, or were, ISU officials. They contend the ISU’s use of a judging system that gives judges anonymity perpetuates unethical behavior. The ISU Council told members it will punish any federations or individuals who support the WSF.

“It is noted that the founding members of the new organization include persons who have been for many years ISU office holders in positions of influence,” the ISU said in a statement Tuesday. “Some of them were also responsible for the education, assessment and promotion of judges. The ISU has to question why during all these years they were unable to produce judging reforms.

“Armed with no member federations, no skaters, no events and with uncertain financing, the WSF is proposing to lure current competitive skaters to a system with an undefined future. This future would deprive current skaters of their World and Olympic dreams while satisfying the ambitions of a few former skating officials seeking a new personal power base.”

The U.S. Figure Skating Assn.’s executive committee last week voted to endorse the principles of the WSF but did not endorse the WSF itself.