China's Figure Skaters Face Investigation After Holding Prop Weapon at Event

ISU officials are conducting an investigation after a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen with an object resembling a replica weapon during an international skating competition.

Television video captured Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing sitting alongside a large toy in the form of a rocket marked “DF-61” while waiting for their scores at the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.

This model represents a recently introduced Chinese-made ground-launched long-range weapon designed for carrying nuclear weapons, which was displayed during a national ceremony last month.

“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been one of the objects thrown on to the rink by audience members after a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU commented in an emailed statement.

The item was then handled by the skaters after their performance. We regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”

Ren and Xing placed in eighth place of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the US.