Chinese Ice Dancers Face Investigation Following Holding Prop Weapon at Competition

ISU officials have launched a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese ice dancers appeared with what looked like a replica weapon at an international skating competition.

Television footage captured Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a missile labeled “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results at the “kiss and cry” zone on Saturday.

The DF-61 is a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based long-range weapon capable of carrying nuclear weapons, that had been displayed at a military parade last month.

Officials have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been among those tossed onto the ice by audience members following a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.

“The soft toy was subsequently held by the athletes who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for this occurrence and will investigate further.”

The duo placed in eighth place out of ten teams in the ice dance event, which was won by the American pair of the United States.