ISU changes residency requirements for skaters!

[barbk]

Honestly, that article makes them sound pretty idiotic. They switched countries without learning the requirements? If they were teens, I could excuse that as them being failed by their team, but they are in their 30s.

Well, I get multiple parents each year who are firmly of the belief that if they simply don't claim their student on their taxes that the student will then qualify for in-state tuition in California. Delusion abounds, and not just in youth.

 

[overedge]

I don't know what data privacy laws are applicable to the ISU and to WADA. But I recently had to go through data privacy training (regional government), and one of the principles that was emphasized was that data collected by one agency can't be used by another agency for a different purpose.

The example that was given was that if someone participated in a focus group interview on a specific topic, the personal data they provided couldn't be used for research on another topic, even research by the same agency. Not even their contact information could be shared with the other researchers.

I would guess that if someone has to sign up with WADA for drug testing as an elite athlete, they're consenting to the personal data they provide being used for the drug testing program. Not for the data to be shared with the ISU to monitor their residency.

 

[screech]

The ISU has given themselves the ability to grant exceptions - and specifically mentions refugees, which would certainly apply to any Ukrainian skaters, I imagine.

It's because of this exception I don't foresee much difference compared to now. Exceptions are such fickle things - like the IOC has a guideline that country-swapping athletes must have gone without representing their former country for 3 years (compared to the ISU's one year), but they almost always grant exceptions - Laurence, for example, was granted one, though she had gone less than 2 between representing Canada at 2024 Worlds, and the 2026 Games for France.

I do hope the exceptions are mostly kept for actual exceptional cases like refugees or countries with limited access to training, instead of just skaters switching to 'weaker' federations because they aren't #1 in their own. It would be great to see more country-swapping skaters actually having a connection to the country they represent.

 

[Private Citizen]

The example that was given was that if someone participated in a focus group interview on a specific topic, the personal data they provided couldn't be used for research on another topic, even research by the same agency. Not even their contact information could be shared with the other researchers.

Correct, not without a specific opt-in. Most will ask for the opt-in for the purposes of inviting them to future surveys.

If the focus group was conducted on behalf of a client, the focus group data is usually the client's IP and also cannot be re-used within the research agency for other clients.

I would guess that if someone has to sign up with WADA for drug testing as an elite athlete, they're consenting to the personal data they provide to be used for the drug testing program. Not to share that data with the ISU to monitor their residency.

Yes, this is a good point. WADA can only share data for anti-doping purposes.

OTOH, if skaters already have to share this data with WADA, the ISU could also ask the skaters to share the same data with the ISU for residency monitoring purposes. The skaters would be under no obligation to do so, though, and the ISU would have to offer a separate process. The ISU would have no ability to verify that the skaters submitted the same data.

 

[cholla]

Liget-Latus/Fisher (FRA) - I believe they may train in the US & he's American.

I believe (but I'm not 100% sure) they also train in Paris on a regular basis.

Another French couple who's going to be impacted is Wessenberg/Strekalin. He has dual citizenship Ukrainian and French but she's for now totally American. They started filling papers last year for her to obtain her French passport, but that will take time, like several years. She can't except any fast procedure like Fournier-Beaudry as she is no medal contender and won't be for a while (or even for long). Until now they were training full time in Chicago and were in France only for a few team gatherings and summer camps.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Has there been clarification one way or another that the rules apply to both members of a team?

 

[marshallpond]

I believe (but I'm not 100% sure) they also train in Paris on a regular basis.

Liget-Latus/Fisher (FRA) train in Paris, though I am not sure where they will train this summer as the Bercy rink closes and will reopen in Sept. They train with the Swiss pairs team and another French team.

The ice dance teams that train with them will be all over the place, with some in Marseilles/Nice and others in Parlignon.

 

[cholla]

Liget-Latus/Fisher (FRA) train in Paris, though I am not sure where they will train this summer as the Bercy rink closes and will reopen in Sept. They train with the Swiss pairs team and another French team.

Aurélie Faula and Théo Belle.

The ice dance teams that train with them will be all over the place, with some in Marseilles/Nice and others in Parlignon.

You mean Pralognan

 

[marshallpond]

You mean Pralognan

LOL yeah ... I knew it starts with letter P

 

[Dobre]

Bizarre. Undermines umpteen countries from developing pairs & dance teams in order to be competitive in the team event. Including South Korea, where the ISU head honcho is from.

 

[marshallpond]

ISU clarified 8.2.2 per their June 12 document https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.az...-and-Event-Regulations-FINAL-1781703337-2.pdf

8.2 BASIC REQUIREMENTS

8.2.1 A Skater may compete only as a member of the ISU Member of a country of which they are a citizen or in which they have resided for at least one year. Citizenship shall be evidenced by an official certificate of citizenship issued by the competent national authority. Residence for one year means and shall be evidenced by documentation demonstrating to the ISU’s satisfaction (acting reasonably) that the individual has maintained continuous stay in the country of residence for a minimum of 180 days within the past calendar year. Proof ofresidence shall be reconfirmed annually through the submission ofappropriate documentation by the ISU Member.

8.2.2 In Pair Skating and Ice Dance, one partner must be a citizen of the country of the represented ISU Member. Article 8.2.1 shall not apply to the other partner, on whom no citizenship or residency requirement is imposed. Articles 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 are standalone provisions and shall not be read in conjunction with one another.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Why could they not change 8.2.1 to “may compete in Singles only” or “in Singles and Solo Dance”? (Rhetorical question).

 

[her grace]

Why could they not change 8.2.1 to “may compete in Singles only” or “in Singles and Solo Dance”? (Rhetorical question).

They do reference 8.2.1 when referring to synchronized skaters later in the document so it’s not just for singles.

They are terrible at crafting clear rules. At least, the edit is an improvement.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Which is piss poor documentation organization practice, since synchro is a stand-alone section with specific rules that list where team members need not comply.

General rule is: must be resident/citizen of the member with the following exceptions:
1. One partner in Pairs and Dance
2. Up to 4 members of a 16-member Synchro team
3. Up to 3 members of a 12-member Synchro team

 

[A.H.Black]

I'm assuming this rule would have changed the US pairs representation at Olympics in Milan - and that it will have an effect on future citizenship issues. Efimova. Parkman. etc.

 

[skatfan]

I'm assuming this rule would have changed the US pairs representation at Olympics in Milan - and that it will have an effect on future citizenship issues. Efimova. Parkman. etc.

No, it wouldn’t. Both members of a partnership have to be citizens with a passport for the country in the Olympics.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I'm assuming this rule would have changed the US pairs representation at Olympics in Milan - and that it will have an effect on future citizenship issues. Efimova. Parkman. etc.

How so?