Team Canada skeleton actions ruled ‘intentional’ to keep U.S. athlete out of competition

An International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) investigation has found that Team Canada intentionally manipulated the outcome of the North American Cup (NAC) in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month, denying American Olympian Katie Uhlaender a chance to qualify for this year’s Winter Olympics in Italy.

The U.S. skeleton athlete was hoping to be the first woman to compete in the Winter Games six times for the U.S., but fell just short of qualifying for the Olympic team.

Uhlaender said a decision by Canadian coaches to withdraw four of their sliders from the NAC race was unfair because it reduced the total points available in that event. Uhlaender won the race but received only 90 points instead of the usual 120, leaving her 18 points short of qualifying for the U.S. team.

Read IBSF tribunal final order

“The appeals tribunal is satisfied that the action of the Canadians was intentional and directed to reducing the points available to athletes who slid at the final Lake Placid NIC,” the ruling found.

The complaint was ultimately dismissed, however, on the grounds that “the Olympic Movement Code does not set out standards or means by which event records can be changed other than through sanctions.”

It’s not clear what those sanctions would be, or if they will be implemented.

Uhlaendar responded to the ruling by the IBSF in a statement to Fox News.

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“Today’s decision by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) Appeals Tribunal reinforces what I, and many other athletes, have known all along,” she said. “The actions of Canadian coach Joe Cecchini and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton were intentional and deliberately aimed at reducing the points available. This was blatant competition manipulation, yet there have been no consequences for the coach involved.”

Global News has reached out to Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton for comment. As of this writing, there has been no response.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

— With files from Global News’ Katie Scott