The International Congress of the World Skating Union today (Tuesday) accepted the proposal to raise the age limit for figure skating competitions to 16 from the 2023-2024 season, and to 17 thereafter.
The minimum age limit was previously 15, but the well-publicized drug case of Russian Olympic Committee athlete Camila Valieva at this year's Winter Olympics in Beijing has raised the issue.
"We want to protect the young athletes," it read.
The ISU Council's proposal was accepted after a heated debate by a two-thirds majority of its members, with the move also applying to fast skating, fast skating on a short track, and synchronized skating.
While there will be no change next season, the move means the age limit at the next Winter Olympics in 2026 in Italy will be 17. A total of 100 federations voted in favor of the proposal, with 16 opposing and two abstaining.
The result caused applause and cheers from the chamber as ISU President Jan Dyke called the move a "historic decision."
ISU CEO - Freddie Schmid, urged members to accept the offer.
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