Chinese Figure Skaters Under Probe Following Holding Prop Weapon at Competition

The International Skating Union are conducting a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen with what looked like a toy ballistic missile during an international skating competition.

Broadcast footage showed the skaters sitting alongside a large toy shaped like a missile labeled “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results at the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.

This model is a new Chinese-made ground-launched intercontinental ballistic missile designed for transporting atomic warheads, which was displayed during a national ceremony last month.

“The ISU have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy appears to have been one of the objects tossed onto the ice by spectators following a performance during the competition,” the organization stated in an emailed statement.

“The soft toy was then held by the athletes after their performance. We regrets the incident and will investigate further.”

Ren and Xing finished eighth of 10 pairs during the ice dancing competition, with the victory going to Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.