ISU denies Russian protest

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Russian protest seeking a duplicate gold medal for Irina Slutskaya in women's figure skating was rejected Friday by the International Skating Union.

"The protest has been denied," ISU spokeswoman Aline Busset said.

She said details would be included in an official statement released later in the day.

Slutskaya appeared shocked when the gold medal went to America's Sarah Hughes on Thursday night. The Russian skating federation quickly protested, seeking a duplicate gold just as was awarded to Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier in the pairs.

Slutskaya got her highest marks from judges from Russia, Slovakia and Bulgaria, while the Canadian and American judges went for Hughes, who went from fourth to first by winning the free skate.

Earlier Friday, Viktor Mamotov, the head of the Russian delegation in Salt Lake City, said, 'We filed the protest last night because we think the judging was biased. Canadian pairs skaters were awarded their gold medals. Now that subjective judging harmed us, we want the same for Slutskaya.'

 

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