Primorskaya
Well-Known Member
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Totally agree that FS needs to be separated and have its own governing body. Having more than one federation...I've no idea what that would do, for instance judge accreditation would be a headache (vetted and approved by one ruling body but not the other etc) but maybe general geopolitical events will make that a moot point.OK. Post Olympics come ISU/Federation meetings - with all the proposals for minimum ages, revisions of the judging system, etc.
I'm thinking it's time for more sweeping changes. Figure skating has never fit with ISU. I read here it was in the '80s the last time a figure skating executive was head of ISU. I propose ISU revise their charter to drop figure skating from their purview. This would allow some group of federations to form a new governing body.
The new federation would have stiff penalties for cheating/doping - particularly, where governments are involved. Russia would not be invited into this federation. It must be accepted that Russia's philosophy is win-at-any-cost. They will work around whatever federation policies are in place to carry out this philosophy. This last example, involving Valieva, proves the point. Russia doped a minor, required special handling of blood samples, and likely interfered with timely reporting. We must face facts that figure skating in the ISU is a family with a drug addict, Russia, refusing treatment.
Aside from whatever extra costs ISU incurs, the repeated undermining by a member federation has depressed athletes, fans and other compliant federations. The worlds this year were a breath of fresh air without Russia and the suspicion their participation invariably brings.
Russia is free to form it's own multi-federation governing body. There are other federations with athletes born and training in Russia. Perhaps they could be members.
Can a system of 2 federations work? There have been others sports with more than one governing body - boxing, for example. Will excluding Russia negatively impact already poor relation between it and other countries? Ignoring Russia's cheating, doping, manipulation doesn't improve it.
The elephant in the room has to be addressed though. It's not fair for all other athletes and national federations to be functioning under a cloud of suspicion and the certainty that their best efforts will go unrewarded. Maybe the moment should be seized.