Weaver, Poje latest to skip ISU Grand Prix

The International Skating Union said competitions at February’s Olympics were marred by biased judging in favour of China, the next Winter Olympic host nation.

An ISU investigation found Chinese judges Chen Weiguang and Huang Feng guilty of boosting Chinese skaters’ marks.

Huang was banned for a year, while Chen is suspended for two years and banned from judging the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Canadian ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje will not compete on the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season.

The three-time world medallists announced the decision Thursday.

“Over the last 12 consecutive years, we have committed ourselves 100 per cent to becoming champions in ice dance, representing our country on the international stage, and enjoying this incredible journey — challenges and accomplishments alike — together every step of the way,” Weaver and Poje said in a joint statement.

“This past season provided us with the most incredible memories, including finishing on the podium (with a bronze medal) at the world championships in Milan. Fulfilling this accomplishment gave us time and the opportunity to reflect on how we would like to continue our skating career.”

Weaver, of Toronto, and Poje, of Waterloo, Ont., said they plan to return for January’s national championships in Saint John, N.B.

The announcement leaves a short-handed Canadian team even more depleted for the Grand Prix circuit. Reigning world women’s champion Kaetlyn Osmond also will skip the Grand Prix circuit, while Olympic ice dance goldmedallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir likely skated their final competitive programs.

Patrick Chan and the pairs team of Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford retired after the Olympics.