Decision of the ISU Council
The Council of the International Skating Union, meeting in
Torino, Italy on December 16-17, 2007, sustained the Appeal
of the Netherlands Skating Association (the KNSB) protesting
a change made to the “official times” of the Men´s1000
meter A race in the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating event
held on November 18, 2007 in Calgary, Canada.
The Council determined that Rule 247, paragraph 4 clearly
states “The times are considered official when the Referee
has signed the timekeeping protocol. The official times may
not be questioned.” For the pair Kuipers-Davis, the
Referee had signed the protocol and thereafter, contrary to
Rule 247, paragraph 4 undertook to change the “official
times” protocol he previously signed, and to substitute
another. The Council found that the Referee’s action
in this regard was made in good faith, but is not permitted
by Rule 247.
The Council determined that Rule 251, paragraph 2, establishes
both “photo cells” and “photo finish”
as “Automatic Timekeeping” equipment authorized
for speed skating use, and in Calgary, for the pair Kuipers–Davis,
with both procedures in use, the “official times”
protocol signed by the Referee was based on the “photo
finish” depiction of the finish of the race showing
Kuipers as the first across the finish line.
The Council also took note of Rule 260, paragraph 1 which
provides “A skater has completed a distance when the
tip of a skate has touched or reached the finish line after
the prescribed number of laps”, and determined that
the words “touched or reached” have significance
with respect to the authorized automatic timing systems, and
that the “photo cells” placed at a low elevation
on the ice are not suitable to determine when a skate at an
elevation above the “beam” of the photo cell reaches
the finish line. In such a case the skate is obviously not
touching the ice at the finish line. The Council found, however,
that the “photo finish” automatic timing system
used by the Timekeepers in determining the “official
times” of the Kuipers-Davis pair is suitable for such
determination and correctly shows Kuipers as the winner of
the pair.
For the avoidance of doubt in future Races, the Council decided
to immediately modify the rule in question, namely rule 251,
paragraph.2. According to this modification the official times
from the photo finish equipment will be decisive in case that
there is a discrepancy with the times from the photo cells
system.
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