Skeleton racing under investigation as US slider accuses Canada

Canada’s decision to withdraw athletes from the North American Cup in Lake Placid on Sunday — a move that American athlete Katie Olender claims cost her a spot in next month’s Winter Olympics — is being investigated by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

Uhlander (41 years old), a two-time world champion in 2012, was hoping to obtain enough classification points to qualify for the sixth Olympic Games before the deadline on January 18.

She won the development race but Canada’s move to withdraw four athletes narrowed the field to less than 21, reducing the number of points available and ending Olender’s chances of competing in Milan-Cortina.

Olender claims Canada coach Joe Cecchini told her about the plan on Friday, and in quotes reported by DW she said: , external“I cried when I found out he carried out this plan.

“I didn’t know whether it was more painful that my best friend of 20 years had nailed my coffin, or that my Olympic dream was over. Or that my best friend of 20 years was doing something so terrible that hurt so many people.”

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the decision to withdraw athletes was made “following a careful assessment of the program’s needs and in consultation with the IBSF.”

The BCS added that it “remains confident that its actions were appropriate, transparent and consistent with the welfare of athletes and the integrity of the sport.”

The BCS said decisions regarding participation in competition are made with “taking into account the health, safety and long-term development of athletes”.

“It was determined that continuing to race with these athletes was not in their best interest, nor in the best interest of the program,” he added.

The national body acknowledged that the move had “an unintended impact on the size of the stadium and therefore on the number of development points allocated to the event.”

But she added: “It is well understood within the sport that development circuits do not hold fixed points. The National Skeleton Program has always treated the development circuit as exactly that – a developmental environment – and not a path to Olympic qualification.”

“The health, safety and long-term development of our athletes remains our top priority. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton takes great pride in its commitment to fair and equitable competition while respecting the rules and standards of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).”

“We have asked the FIFA Integrity Unit to investigate the incident,” FIFA told BBC Sport.

A USA Bobsled/Skeleton spokesperson welcomed the IBSF review and said: “USA Bobsled/Skeleton is committed to fair play and protecting the rights of athletes.

“At the same time, we recognize the importance of maintaining positive and respectful international relations within our sport.”