ISU Defends French Judge in Winter Olympics Scoring Controversy
The International Skating Union has publicly supported French judge Jezabel Dabouis following explosive allegations that she manipulated her scores to secure a gold medal for her nation at the Winter Olympics. The controversy erupted after French ice dancing duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron unexpectedly defeated American favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the Milan-Cortina Games.
Questionable Scoring Margin Sparks Outrage
Dabouis awarded Beaudry and Cizeron nearly eight points more than the three-time world champions during the free dance competition. This substantial margin proved decisive; statistical analysis reveals that if Dabouis's score had been excluded from the calculations, the American pair would have claimed the gold medal instead. The dramatic outcome has ignited fury among skating enthusiasts worldwide.
By Friday morning, more than 14,000 outraged fans had signed a Change.org petition demanding that both the ISU and International Olympic Committee launch a formal investigation into the scoring discrepancy. The petition highlights growing public distrust in the judging process and calls for transparency in Olympic figure skating competitions.
ISU Statement Defends Judge and Scoring System
In an official statement, the ISU firmly backed Dabouis and made no indication of plans to review the controversial scores. The organization emphasized that variations in judges' scores are normal within any panel and that multiple mechanisms exist to mitigate these differences. The ISU declared it has "full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness."
This unwavering support from the sport's governing body leaves the American pair with limited recourse, as the ISU appears unwilling to examine the scoring anomaly that cost them Olympic gold. Chock and Bates expressed profound disappointment after delivering what they described as their absolute best performance, only to finish with silver medals.
History of Controversial Judging Decisions
This incident marks not the first time Dabouis has awarded questionable scores to the French pair. At last year's Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Japan, Beaudry and Cizeron missed a crucial element and suffered a fall during their routine—errors that typically eliminate podium contention. Despite these mistakes, Dabouis rewarded them with exceptionally high marks, enabling them to secure silver.
The French judge also displayed significant bias during the Olympic rhythm dance, where she again favored her compatriots over the American team by a wide margin. "Any time the public is confused by results, it does a disservice to our sport," commented Chock, who alongside Bates had previously won a team gold medal at the same Games. "I think it's hard to retain fans when it's difficult to understand what is happening on the ice."
Echoes of Past Olympic Judging Scandals
The current controversy evokes memories of the most infamous judging scandal in Olympic figure skating history, which also involved a French judge. During the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze controversially defeated Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier for gold.
An investigation revealed that French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne had engaged in vote-swapping and misconduct, leading to her suspension. Ultimately, both pairs were awarded gold medals, and the scandal prompted the ISU to overhaul its scoring system two years later, replacing the subjective 6.0 system with a more technical evaluation method.
Social Media Backlash and Athlete Reactions
Social media platforms have erupted with condemnation from fans and fellow competitors alike. "This is a judging scandal," one user declared. "There aren’t many times in sports where several times over it seems to be rigged... Chock and Bates got robbed." American figure skater Ellie Kam publicly supported her compatriots on Instagram, describing them as "true champions."
Meanwhile, the gold medal-winning French pair arrived at the Olympics already surrounded by controversy. Fournier Beaudry has faced intense scrutiny over her relationship with former partner Nikolaj Sorensen, who was suspended following sexual assault allegations. Cizeron has been accused by former partner Gabriella Papadakis of being "controlling, demanding and critical" during their partnership, claims he vehemently denies and is pursuing legal action against.
As the ISU maintains its position supporting Dabouis, the controversy raises fundamental questions about judging integrity, transparency in Olympic sports, and the mechanisms designed to ensure fair competition at the highest level of international figure skating.
