IOC responds to USOPC letter on Katie Uhlaender's petition for Olympic spot after Team Canada controversy

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) addressed a missive from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) petitioning for a spot successful the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games for American skeleton seasoned Katie Uhlaender. 

Uhlaender precocious mislaid retired connected the accidental to suffice for a spot aft Team Canada withdrew athletes from the North America Cup earlier this month, reducing the magnitude of points the contention could award. The simplification made it mathematically intolerable for Uhlaender to gain capable points to qualify. 

Uhlaender appealed the result to the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), but nary alteration was made. The IOC has present referred to the IBSF's decision. 

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Katie Uhlaender of Team United States poses for a representation during the Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic sprout successful Irvine, California, connected Sept. 12, 2021. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)

"This substance relates to the exertion of the IBSF’s rules and procedures successful transportation with an IBSF organized event. The IOC understands that IBSF has already responded to Ms Uhlaender connected this matter," the IOC said successful a connection provided to Fox News Digital.

The IOC's connection did not admit Uhlaender's petition for a wild-card berth to Milan Cortina. 

Belgium, South Korea, the Virgin Islands, Malta, Israel and Denmark's teams person each enactment their enactment down Uhlaender's efforts, sending letters of enactment to the USOPC to effort and person the lawsuit further investigated. 

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the determination to retreat the athletes was made "after cautious valuation of the program's needs and successful consultation with the IBSF" and "careful information of jock health, safety, and semipermanent development."

"It was determined that continuing to contention these athletes was not successful their champion interests, nor successful the champion interests of the program," it added.

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Katie Uhlaender (U.S.) competes successful the women’s skeleton lawsuit astatine the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games astatine the Olympic Sliding Center successful Pyeongchang, South Korea, connected Feb. 17, 2018. (James Lang/USA TODAY Sports)

However, 1 of the Canadian athletes said the coaches said the crushed for the withdrawal was owed to "the champion involvement for the mode points had worked." 

"They had travel implicit and explained to america that it would beryllium successful the champion involvement for the mode points had worked for Jane, truthful that we arsenic a squad tin suffice 2 spots to the Olympics," Canadian skeleton racer Madeline Parra told The Canadian Press.

IBSF’s Interim Integrity Unit investigated allegations of contention manipulation. It acknowledged the withdrawals raised interest but concluded the governing rules let teams to retreat athletes astatine immoderate time. Because the rulebook contains nary punishment oregon safeguard for precocious withdrawals that change points distribution, the IIU dismissed the complaint.

Vice President JD Vance volition pb the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the Milan Cortina Olympics adjacent month. Uhlaender hopes the vice president volition advocator for her participation.

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Katie Uhlaender of the U.S. reacts aft the women’s skeleton vigor 2 tally during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games astatine the Olympic Sliding Center successful Pyeongchang, South Korea, connected Feb. 16, 2018. (Mark Ralston / AFP via Getty Images)

"As U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to conscionable with the enactment of the International Olympic Committee, I respectfully inquire that helium basal with maine arsenic an Olympian that has represented the United States of America and our values, the USOPC, and the galore affected nations successful supporting our petition to IOC President Kirsty Coventry to usage her authorization to uphold fairness successful Olympic athletics by granting a wildcard entry," Uhlaender said.

"Doing truthful would support the integrity of contention and forestall further harm. Such enactment would nonstop a almighty connection to young athletes everywhere: that lasting up for morals and integrity whitethorn beryllium difficult, but it matters."

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