Pfenning Removed as Referee at 2003 World Figure Skating Championships

STATEMENT OF SKATEFAIR
RE: REMOVAL OF RON PFENNING FROM WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP ASSIGNMENT

SkateFAIR has obtained the correspondence of International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta and ISU Figure Skating Technical Committee member Ron Pfenning, regarding Mr. Pfenning's refusal to comply with the illegal imposition of the interim judging system, and Mr. Cinquanta's subsequent removal of Mr. Pfenning from his position as referee at the upcoming Ladies'Final at the World Championships. The full text of the correspondence is posted below.

SkateFAIR continues to protest the illegal imposition of the interim judging system, a system that contravenes and contradicts numerous ISU rules and regulations, and that continues to provide unaccountable results. Mr. Pfenning's protest of the interim system at the Four Continents Championship, where he served as Referee for the Men's event, is the latest evidence that Mr. Cinquanta and the ISU leadership persist in shoving a series of disastrous decisions down the throat of the sport of figure skating.

The correspondence demonstrates that Mr. Cinquanta will continue to ignore the protests of several major figure skating Federations, and of his own senior officials, when they contradict his autocratic notion of how the ISU should function. This stonewalling has now cost the upcoming World Championships one of skating's most experienced referees, along with the credibility that has already been sacrificed to a culture of secrecy and corruption. Mr. Pfenning, who was outspoken in his criticisms of ISU leadership in the aftermath of the Salt Lake City pairs scandal, is only the latest victim - and a brave one, at that - of officials who will admit no wrong, no dissent, and no criticism.

SkateFAIR again calls upon Mr. Cinquanta to hold an Extraordinary Congress following the World Championships to allow for a complete and democratic debate about both the interim and Code of Points judging systems. Additionally, because the skating season's most prestigious event is about to begin, and because the interim system has been demonstrated to be illegally in place, we call upon the ISU to restore the judging system that was in place before last year's ISU Congress. The skaters attending this year's World Championships, who are leaving their countries and coming to Washington at a time of heightened concern and risk, deserve honest judges, accountable marks, and the restoration of the power of referees in their sport.

Media Note: SkateFAIR will protest the ISU leadership at 5:30 PM on March 28, 2003, outside the MCI Center on F Street NW in Washington DC where the World Figure Skating Championships will take place. For more information, please e-mail Naomi.Paiss@widmeyer.com and check this web site.

Below are links to the 13 pages of faxes obtained by SkateFAIR.

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