An investigation by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has found that Team Canada manipulated the outcome of the North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month. Canada’s actions denied American Olympian Katie Uhlaender a chance to earn enough points to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. After Team Canada withdrew four athletes from the North America Cup, it reduced the amount of points the competition could award. The reduction made it mathematically impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough points to qualify. Uhlaender, a five-time Olympian, was hoping to qualify for her sixth Winter Games, but lost the chance before competition even began in Lake Placid due to Canada’s withdrawals. The IBSF has now found that “the action of the Canadians was intentional and directed to reducing the points available to athletes who slid at the final Lake Placid NAC,” it announced in a release obtained by Fox News Digital on Wednesday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMBobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) originally said the decision to withdraw the athletes was made “after careful evaluation of the program’s needs and in consultation with the IBSF” and “careful consideration of athlete health, safety, and long-term development.””It was determined that continuing to race these athletes was not in their best interests, nor in the best interests of the program,” it added.However, one of the Canadian athletes said the coaches said the reason for the withdrawal was due to “the best interest for the way points had worked.” “They had come over and explained to us that it would be in the best interest for the way points had worked for Jane, so that we as a team can qualify two spots to the Olympics,” Canadian skeleton racer Madeline Parra told The Canadian Press.Now, the IBSF has found evidence that Canada made a conscious decision to withdraw athletes to manipulate the potential points at stake. “Although Canada subsequently attributed its decision to order four athletes not to slide in Official Training to concerns about the athletes involved, substantial evidence supports Ms. Uhlaender’s contention that the move was a deliberate effort by Canada to reduce the points available at the final Lake Placid NAC so as to protect its own Olympic quotas,” the announcement said.NHL STAR DISAPPOINTED TO BE LEFT OFF TEAM USA’S OLYMPIC ROSTER: ‘THOUGHT MY PLAY THIS YEAR WAS WORTHY’However, the IBSF also is not taking any action to penalize Canada or change the outcome of the event to award Uhlaender a shot at qualifying for the Olympics. “Although the disqualification of an athlete and cancellation of results may have collateral impacts (other participants moving up in official finishes, for example) the Olympic Movement Code does not set out standards or means by which event records can be changed other than through sanctions,” the announcement read. Uhlaender addressed the announcement in a statement t
Team Canada found to have manipulated competition that cost American shot at Milan Cortina Olympics
