- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
golden411 said:I neglected to say earlier that I have not seen the official rules regarding injury/substitution pertaining specifically to the new combination in Sochi of the team and individual events. CSG, do you have a link to a document that spells them out?
I couldn't find it on the ISU site or by Google, but I have a copy -- it's Annex A to a document called "Qualification system for XX!! Olympic Winter Games, Sochi 2014. It is not quite as clear as it might be, but I am quite sure that the language allows a National Federation with only one slot to have an alternate on standby. If the main guy has to withdraw because of injury the alternate can skate. I think this could occur between the short program and the long program of the team event and also between the team event and the individual events. (There are some rules about informing the officials in a timely way, etc.)
The injured skater must submit doctors reports outlining the history of the injury, recommendations for treatment, etc.
As far as i can tell, it would not be a technical violation of the rules for Plushenko to go as long and as hard as he can, and then give way to Kovtun, citing injury. Any other country in the same position would also have that option, if they were so unfortunate to have their number one suffer an injury in the middle of the Games. (If a country has more than one spot, the injured skater must be replaced by one of the other qualified skaters -- unless the other guy is injured, too.)
This does not address the question of sportsmanship. But anyway, this is us talking, not Plushenko. I think he will do everything he can. Here's what I hope happens. Plushenko skates in the team event and wins a medal. Then the Russian Federation says, OK, you remember the deal -- now you are supposed to withdraw with an injury, wink, wink. Plushenko says, up your nose, Piseev, bring on the individuals!