In an official release from the committee’s headquarters in Milan, the president confirmed that multiple national federations, including those from the United States, Japan, and several European nations, filed formal complaints regarding suspicious scoring patterns in figure skating events during Milano-Cortina 2026.

According to the statement, the International Skating Union has launched an urgent internal investigation into what it described as “serious misconduct” by several referees. The governing body is now reviewing score sheets, technical panels, and communication records linked to controversial judging decisions.

At the center of the scandal is a judge of European nationality whose identity has not been disclosed. Investigators suspect deliberate and extremely biased scoring in the women’s singles competition, allegedly inflating marks for a specific athlete beyond what objective analysis would justify.

Preliminary panel analysis reportedly shows discrepancies of nearly nine points above the judging average in both technical and program component scores. Such deviations, according to ISU regulations, far exceed acceptable scoring tolerances and trigger automatic integrity reviews under competition governance standards.

These irregularities allegedly occurred during the women’s singles event, one of the most anticipated competitions of Milano-Cortina 2026. The suspicious scoring patterns immediately raised red flags among analysts and coaching teams monitoring live results from across the globe.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that judges’ scores are typically anonymized but traceable internally. When performance elements were cross-compared using statistical models, one judge’s marks repeatedly deviated in favor of a particular skater, significantly altering the overall rankings.

Even more concerning are indications of unusual communication between the suspected judge and third parties. While no formal charges have been filed, investigators are examining potential personal gain, conflicts of interest, or improper external influence connected to the scoring anomalies.

Officials emphasized that it remains unclear whether the alleged match-fixing was systematic or an isolated individual act. However, the possibility that Olympic judging integrity was compromised has already sent shockwaves throughout international winter sports federations and athlete communities.

The most dramatic revelation involves American skater Alysa Liu, who originally celebrated a historic gold medal victory in women’s singles at Milano-Cortina 2026. The organizing committee confirmed that her results must now undergo official review.

While no direct wrongdoing has been attributed to Liu, the chairman stated that if violations directly affecting final rankings are confirmed, medal placements could be reconsidered. Such a move would mark one of the most controversial Olympic reversals in recent history.

Legal experts in sports arbitration suggest that any medal review would involve a multilayered appeals process. National federations, affected athletes, and potentially the Court of Arbitration for Sport could become involved if ranking changes are proposed.

Athletes from Japan and several European countries reportedly expressed frustration following the event, privately questioning scoring transparency. Some coaches indicated they noticed unusual technical component marks during the competition but lacked immediate proof to challenge them.

Data analysts reviewing the scoring breakdown noted that the alleged discrepancies were concentrated in specific program components such as skating skills and performance interpretation. These subjective categories often provide room for bias if oversight mechanisms fail.

The scandal has reignited long-standing debates about judging transparency in figure skating. Critics argue that despite reforms implemented after past Olympic controversies, the system still allows for subtle manipulation within technical and artistic scoring frameworks.

The ISU confirmed it is conducting a full forensic audit of judging data, including time-stamped scoring submissions and encrypted communication logs. Independent observers may also be appointed to ensure the credibility of the investigative process.

The president of the Milano-Cortina 2026 committee described the situation as “deeply troubling” but reaffirmed a commitment to fairness and Olympic values. He stated that protecting athlete integrity and public trust remains the committee’s highest priority.

Sponsors and broadcast partners are closely monitoring developments. The commercial success of the Winter Olympics depends heavily on global trust in competition fairness, and any proven manipulation could impact future host cities and federation governance reforms.

Meanwhile, athletes are caught in emotional limbo. For medalists, the uncertainty creates psychological strain, as podium moments once considered definitive now face potential revision pending investigative outcomes.

Social media platforms have exploded with debate. Fans are divided between defending athletes and demanding transparency from officials. The hashtag #OlympicJudgingScandal began trending within hours of the committee’s announcement.

Experts caution that premature conclusions could damage reputations unfairly. They stress the importance of allowing due process to unfold before assigning blame to individual judges or competitors involved in the investigation.

If confirmed, the misconduct would represent one of the most significant judging scandals since previous Olympic figure skating controversies. It could accelerate demands for AI-assisted scoring reviews or greater public disclosure of judge identities.

For now, the International Skating Union’s urgent investigation continues behind closed doors. The sports world awaits clarity, aware that the credibility of Milano-Cortina 2026 — and potentially Olympic figure skating itself — hangs in the balance.

As developments emerge, all eyes remain fixed on Milan. The coming weeks could redefine competitive judging standards and determine whether Alysa Liu’s golden moment endures in Olympic history or becomes part of a larger scandal narrative.