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Figure skater accused of slashing teen rival ahead of the world championships


The International Skating Union has cleared Mariah Bell of causing intentional harm to Lim Eun-soo ahead of the world championships.

American Bell was accused of colliding into the 16-year-old South Korean in the final warm-up session in Japan.

The ISU said it had been made aware of a statement published by the Korea Skating Union on March 21 about the incident.

“Based on the evidence at hand at this point in time, which includes a video, there is no evidence that Ms. Bell intended any harm to Ms. Lim,” the ISU said in a statement.

The ISU said the incident was “verbally reported” to the ISU by the Korean team leader but it had received no formal complaint.

Bell slashes her teen rival with her skate blade


“The ISU met with delegates from both USA and Korea and urged both parties to find an amicable solution. The ISU maintains that this remains the appropriate approach,” the governing body added.

A spokesperson from Lim’s South Korean sports Agency, All That Sports, had claimed it was deliberate.

“Lim was slowly skating on the edge of the rink after completing her turn,” they told The Telegraph .

Bell was cleared of any wrongdoing

“Mariah Bell, who was scheduled to rehearse after Lim, suddenly kicked and stabbed Lim’s calf with her skate blades.

“Mariah Bell didn’t apologize to Lim Eun-soo after the incident and instead continued to rehearse for her routine.

“We believe this is not a minor situation that can happen in an official rehearsal.”

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The incident echoes Tonya Harding’s infamous attack on Nancy Kerrigan back in 1994.

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