Posted on 02/15/2002 11:42:28 AM PST by The_Victor
Snip of redundant material
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"The council got enough evidence that this individual was responsible for misconduct. They (the skaters) were not judged equally."
Cinquanta said le Gougne had "practically admitted" she had been put under pressure during a meeting at which the American referee Ron Pfenning had been present. Earlier this week, Cinquanta said Pfenning had handed him a letter containing "certain allegations".
He added if a judge received pressure at any time the referee had to be informed.
RUSSIANS FURIOUS
"This did not happen in the case of Mrs. Le Gougne," Cinquanta said.
He said a council meeting on Monday would decide how long the suspension would last.
Pelletier and Sale told Canadian television after the announcement that justice had been done.
"Everyone knows what we deserve and we know what we deserve and we are taking that home with us and that's all that matters," Sale said.
"This is not about us and the Russians, this is about the sport we love dearly and justice was done, and that is a good feeling," said Pelletier.
"I hope it's not going to stop the cleaning of (figure skating's) house here," he added.
Sale said: "We just want the truth to come out and I think for the future of our sport this had to be fixed."
The Russian team reacted furiously to Friday's decision, describing it as a huge blow to the Olympic spirit.
Russian Olympic Committee official Rudolf Nezvegsky told Reuters: "By doing this, they just struck a huge blow, not only to the Olympic spirit of fair competition but also to the whole nature of sport.
"It went against any moral and ethical norms that exist in sport where athletes, not lawyers, compete against each other on the slopes and in the sports arenas and not in back rooms," Nezvegsky said.
"Mr Rogge, who has just become IOC president, probably does not understand what he has done for the sports movement for future Olympic Games (news - web sites)," Nezvegsky added.
Like boxing, for example?
And what about refs? They are essentially judges as their ruling effect outcome. Like in football when the ref says the kick/TD is good or not.
So, here's the solution: ban all sports from the Olympics. Thus, no human "judgement."
Now, can we get practical please?
You're weird, man, really weird.
Rather ironic coming from a former Soviet.
Mind without might gets a "super wedgie" before suffering the humiliating "swirrly".
Of course lately Russia has neither might nor mind, thus gets ignored completely. Get used to it.
BTW, how much do Russian olympic gold medals go for in the flea markets of Moscow these days? Maybe $20?
I won't ask how much Russian former figure skaters go for. ;)
I agree. The Russians should give up their gold medals and take the silvers. Shall we ask the big bad American media to accomplish that next? The Canadians were being classy in just asking for an equal medal.
BTW, if there was nothing "proven," why was the judge suspended? Don't cha think that there's maybe some things about this situtation that haven't been reported to the public? You're just repeating the Russian coach's "talking points" based on limited knowledge. If the judge was suspended, the skating committee likely knows more than they are saying.
Isn't he the one who already lives in the US and is planning to naturalize after the Olympics?
So she made up a lie and took it back later?
More likely she told the truth and then was pressured to deny it to be politic. One scenario makes sense; the other doesn't.
Three words: French ice dancers.
Get real, Serge. The problems in the judging for ice skating are hardly new. The "iron curtian bloc" voting was de rigeur for years. You act like this has never happened before. To the contrary, it has been happening for far too long.
Probably. And the corruption will continue. And your point was?
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