Red Dog considerately posted this letter when it first came out; I just copied and pasted from Archives:
Lausanne, November 10, 2004
CIRCULAR LETTER No. 592 Total pages transmitted: 2
To: ISU Members
Entries/Withdrawals in ISU Events
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The ISU Council is very concerned and disturbed by the recently created
situation under which certain World top figure skaters are not competing in the
ISU Events, in particular in the Grand Prix Series. Some have claimed serious
injuries and others some other reasons, like need of rest and preparation for the
ISU Championships.
However, some of these skaters perform at the same time shows and/or
participate or have announced participation in other international competitions
during the period when the Grand Prix Series individual events and Final are
held.
All ISU Members know well that the ISU has concluded contracts with a
number of TV companies for the coverage of the Grand Prix Series and Final.
The ISU feels responsible to present top skaters at these Events. Not fulfilling
this might result in reduction of the fees received by the ISU from current
partners and in the future since it jeopardizes the credibility of the ISU and
worsens the ISU position in negotiating future contracts.
It was with due regards to all these aspects that the Members organizing the GP
competitions have made contractual commitments to enter seeded skaters in
accordance with article 2.1 of the GP Announcement and that the ISU Congress
some years ago adopted an amendment to rule 125 paragraph 4 and to rule 136
paragraph 6 of the ISU General Regulations under which :
“Improper conduct by a skater includes refusal, for other than medical or
other justifiable reason, to participate in the ISU Events in accordance with
commitments established by the ISU and Members concerned.” (For
confirmation of illness or injury see rule 104 paragraph 17).
Under rule 104 paragraph 17 and also under the explicit article 11 of the GP
Announcement an injury or illness must be evidenced by a certificate issued by
a Medical Doctor and confirmed by the respective Member and/or the ISU
Medical Advisor.
Of course, in such a case the opinion and advice of the ISU Medical Advisor
must be followed. If the injury requires, in the opinion of the Medical Advisor a
rest from competitions and exhibitions (or sometimes even from practice), then
the skater can not skate in exhibitions or other competitions.
The ISU Council would like to remind all ISU Members that the obligation to
give first priority to ISU Events, when entering or authorizing the participation
of skaters in competitions and/or exhibitions, applies to the seeded skaters of
both the Grand Prix individual events and the Final. The ISU Council
therefore urgently asks all ISU Members with seeded skaters in the GP to take
immediately all available measures in order to be able to comply with their
commitments and to enter those skaters for the remaining GP Series
Competitions and Final (if qualified).
The Council has no other choice than to inform the ISU Members and
through them the skaters that it will make immediate use of rule 125
paragraph 4 ]and open disciplinary proceedings against those skaters who
violate the ISU rules and file a Disciplinary Complaint with a request that
the skaters be excluded under rule 125 paragraph 4 from participation in
ISU Events (incl. Championships), International Competitions, Olympic
Winter Games and exhibitions for an appropriate period of time.
ISU Members violating their obligations might face financial penalties under
article 17 paragraph 1, u) of the ISU Constitution. The Council hopes that all ISU Members and skaters will understand the serious aspects of the situation and will do their utmost to assist the ISU in avoiding inconveniences.
With kind regards,
Ottavio Cinquanta Fredi Schmid
President General Secretary
______________
Lausanne, November 10, 2004
CIRCULAR LETTER No. 592 Total pages transmitted: 2
To: ISU Members
Entries/Withdrawals in ISU Events
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The ISU Council is very concerned and disturbed by the recently created
situation under which certain World top figure skaters are not competing in the
ISU Events, in particular in the Grand Prix Series. Some have claimed serious
injuries and others some other reasons, like need of rest and preparation for the
ISU Championships.
However, some of these skaters perform at the same time shows and/or
participate or have announced participation in other international competitions
during the period when the Grand Prix Series individual events and Final are
held.
All ISU Members know well that the ISU has concluded contracts with a
number of TV companies for the coverage of the Grand Prix Series and Final.
The ISU feels responsible to present top skaters at these Events. Not fulfilling
this might result in reduction of the fees received by the ISU from current
partners and in the future since it jeopardizes the credibility of the ISU and
worsens the ISU position in negotiating future contracts.
It was with due regards to all these aspects that the Members organizing the GP
competitions have made contractual commitments to enter seeded skaters in
accordance with article 2.1 of the GP Announcement and that the ISU Congress
some years ago adopted an amendment to rule 125 paragraph 4 and to rule 136
paragraph 6 of the ISU General Regulations under which :
“Improper conduct by a skater includes refusal, for other than medical or
other justifiable reason, to participate in the ISU Events in accordance with
commitments established by the ISU and Members concerned.” (For
confirmation of illness or injury see rule 104 paragraph 17).
Under rule 104 paragraph 17 and also under the explicit article 11 of the GP
Announcement an injury or illness must be evidenced by a certificate issued by
a Medical Doctor and confirmed by the respective Member and/or the ISU
Medical Advisor.
Of course, in such a case the opinion and advice of the ISU Medical Advisor
must be followed. If the injury requires, in the opinion of the Medical Advisor a
rest from competitions and exhibitions (or sometimes even from practice), then
the skater can not skate in exhibitions or other competitions.
The ISU Council would like to remind all ISU Members that the obligation to
give first priority to ISU Events, when entering or authorizing the participation
of skaters in competitions and/or exhibitions, applies to the seeded skaters of
both the Grand Prix individual events and the Final. The ISU Council
therefore urgently asks all ISU Members with seeded skaters in the GP to take
immediately all available measures in order to be able to comply with their
commitments and to enter those skaters for the remaining GP Series
Competitions and Final (if qualified).
The Council has no other choice than to inform the ISU Members and
through them the skaters that it will make immediate use of rule 125
paragraph 4 ]and open disciplinary proceedings against those skaters who
violate the ISU rules and file a Disciplinary Complaint with a request that
the skaters be excluded under rule 125 paragraph 4 from participation in
ISU Events (incl. Championships), International Competitions, Olympic
Winter Games and exhibitions for an appropriate period of time.
ISU Members violating their obligations might face financial penalties under
article 17 paragraph 1, u) of the ISU Constitution. The Council hopes that all ISU Members and skaters will understand the serious aspects of the situation and will do their utmost to assist the ISU in avoiding inconveniences.
With kind regards,
Ottavio Cinquanta Fredi Schmid
President General Secretary
______________
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