Mixed messages
Harding says she's back but skating officials disagree
Posted: Wednesday February 17, 1999 01:42 PM
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Harding continues to be banned from all USFSA events, but can skate professionally in non-sanctioned events. Phil Cole/Allsport |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The U.S. Figure Skating Association
disputes Tonya Harding's claim that her lifetime ban from the sport
has been eased.
"We have not changed our stance on a lifetime ban for Tonya
Harding," USFSA spokesman Bob Dunlop said. "That's about as
simple as I can make it."
Harding revealed her plans for a comeback on KPTV's Good Day
Oregon' morning show Tuesday. Between hugs with her dog, Dakota,
and talk of a new man in her life, Harding said the USFSA had a
meeting last week in which officials said she could skate
professionally with their skaters in competitions and shows.
"They say I can skate with their skaters and in shows,"
Harding said, adding that she has turned her life around and wants
to return to the ice.
"Skating always been my whole life," she said. "I just love
it. I miss my old friends."
Harding, 28, was convicted of hindering prosecution in the
attack on Nancy Kerrigan in 1994 at the USFSA national
championships in Detroit. She was fined $110,000 and ordered to
perform community service. Her ex-husband and two other men were
convicted and served time for planning and carrying out the attack.
Dunlop said Harding continues to be banned from all USFSA
sanctioned events, including the popular televised Champions on
Ice, featuring such stars as Michelle Kwan. Non-sanctioned events
are the only venues in which Harding can skate professionally.
That's what she's aiming at, said Michael Rosenberg, Harding's
former manager who is now acting as her adviser.
Rosenberg said he spoke informally with USFSA officials last
week to clarify that the ban included no reprisals against other
skaters who appeared in professional events with Harding.
"For the last five years, skaters have been worried that if
they skated on the same ice with Tonya, they would never be invited
to a pro-am event," Rosenberg said.
He noted that in the past five years, Harding has tried other
comebacks, but no promoters or tour producers ever approached her.
"She has been like a pariah in the skating world," Rosenberg
said. "She's tried to sing, she's tried to wrestle, she's done
interviews for money. ... That's how she's scraped out a living.
"She should be able to resume her life and do what she was born
to do," Rosenberg said.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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