Chinese Ice Dancers Face Investigation Following Displaying Prop Weapon at Event

The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese figure skaters appeared holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.

Television video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting alongside a sizable prop in the form of a rocket labeled “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.

This model represents a recently introduced Chinese-made ground-launched intercontinental ballistic missile designed for transporting atomic warheads, which was displayed during a national ceremony last month.

“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item seems to have been among those thrown on to the ice by spectators following a performance during the competition,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.

The item was then held by the skaters who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for this occurrence and will look into it more deeply.”

The duo finished in eighth place out of ten teams in the ice dance event, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.