China's Figure Skaters Under Probe Following Holding Toy Missile at Event

ISU officials have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen with what looked like a toy ballistic missile during a grand prix figure skating event.

Television video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting with a large toy shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores at the “kiss and cry” area during the event.

The DF-61 is a new China-produced ground-launched long-range weapon capable of transporting atomic warheads, that had been unveiled during a national ceremony last month.

“The ISU is aware of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been one of the objects tossed onto the rink by audience members after a performance during the competition,” the organization stated via a release.

“The soft toy was then held by the athletes who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for the incident and will look into it more deeply.”

The duo finished eighth out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair of the United States.

Bradley Johnson
Bradley Johnson

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