The ISU Council met on April 3, 2000 following the conclusion of the World Championships and took the following actions.
Elena Berezhnaya of Russia (Figure Skating, Pairs) and Evgeniy Sviridov of
Uzbekistan (Figure Skating, Pairs Pairs) both tested positive for prohibited substances
(in the category of stimulants) at recent ISU Championships. The samples were respectively
taken from the Skaters at the 2000 European Figure Skating Championships in Vienna, and at
the 2000 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Osaka.
Each aforementioned skater confirmed in writing that the positive test was related to
medications that they had taken inadvertently. Each accepted the results of the
"A" sample analysis. This means that the "B" sample analysis is
waived.
In addition, the respective Federations withdrew the pairs Elena Berezhnaya / Anton
Sikharulidze (RUS) and Natalia Ponomareva / Evgeniy Sviridov (UZB) from the 2000 World
Figure Skating Championships.
At its meeting in Nice, France on April 3, 2000, the Council of the International Skating
Union (ISU) took into consideration the cooperation of the Skaters and of their national
federations, and decided upon the following sanctions:
The Skaters are each suspended from all competitions for three (3) months beginning on the
day of sample-taking, i.e:
Elena Berezhnaya (RUS): suspended from February 9, 2000 to May 8, 2000
Evgeniy Sviridov (UZB): suspended from February 24, 2000 to May 23, 2000
Both couples are excluded from the respective results of the Championships and their
respective placements, prize money as well as the European title and medal for Berezhnaya/
Sikharulidze are withdrawn. The placings and prize money for the skaters below the
sanctioned skaters will be adjusted to compose new rankings.
The official protocols of the 2000 European Figure Skating Championships, and of the Four
Continents Figure Skating Championships will be updated by moving up one position all
competitors ranked below the sanctioned Skaters.
The Council also decided that, in these cases, the ISU suspension will not apply to ice
shows or exhibitions.
The ISU Council during its meeting in Nice, France on April 3 and 4, 2000
decided upon the provisional allotments of the following events:
2002 European Figure Skating Championships
The Hungarian National Skating Federation, which had received the
provisional allotment to host this Event in Budapest, had to return the allotment due to
the destruction of the Budapest ice stadium by fire last year.
Considering other applications received at the time of the initial provisional allotment
the ISU Council decided to provisionally allot the 2002 European Championships to the
Swiss Skating Union, to be held on January 1-20, 2002 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals
The Council provisionally allotted the following finals.
Season 2000/ 01: Japan Skating Federation
to be held in Tokyo on February 15-18, 2001
Season 2001/ 02: Canadian Figure
Skating Association
(Olympic Season) to be held in Kitchener on December
14-16, 2001