ISU strips Plushenko of amateur eligibility

2006 Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko's talk of competing four years from now at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia is no more.

On Monday the International Skating Union permanently stripped the 27-year old Russian of his amateur status, citing the fact that he broke eligibility rule #102. In their decision, the ISU Council said:

"Based on evidence presented the Council has concluded that Mr. Evgeny Plushenko breached the ISU eligibility rule 102, paragraph 2, i) of the ISU General Regulations and as a consequence has become ineligible under paragraph 7 a) of that rule. The evidence has proved to the satisfaction of the Council that Mr. E. Plushenko, a skater and member of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FSFR), skated in exhibitions held in March and April 2010, in Russia and other countries, without the express prior authorization of the FSFR. Such activity is a breach of the ISU eligibility rules and results in the loss of eligibility."

Here's what happened in layman's terms: Plushenko was slated to compete at the World Championships in March, one month after winning the silver medal in Vancouver behind American Evan Lysacek. Shortly before the start of Worlds, Plushenko withdrew citing injury. His doctor's note to the ISU stated that he would need two weeks of rest, with limited to no skating at all. After not competing at Worlds, Plushenko then skated in the "Kings on Ice" show in Russia. Annoyed, the ISU refused to sanction the shows, meaning that skaters who wished to maintain their amateur skating status were not to perform. Because Plushenko skated in the shows anyway, he is now deemed a "professional" skater and is therefore banned from ever skating competitively again.

The lines between amateur and professional skaters these days are virtually non-existent, as the ISU has allowed more skaters to perform in shows to earn money. The shows must be sanctioned by the ISU, however, and "Kings on Ice" was not. As frustrating as it may seem for Plushenko, and as ridiculous as this whole issue is altogether, the rules are the rules.

While it's unlikely that Plushenko was actually going to skate in another Olympic Games, he now won't have the opportunity of competing even one or two more years to try and rack up more European and World Championship medals. While his figure skating legacy is secure, this has to be a devastating way to end his competitive career.

McLaughlin, Brubaker split

It was a great four-year run for Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker.

Teaming up in 2006, the young American duo won everything on the junior circuit, including the 2007 Junior World title, and then transitioned to the senior ranks where they claimed back-to-back U.S. championships and qualified for the 2007 Grand Prix Final.

One year ago a 2010 Olympic berth seemed all but assured for this top 10 team, but a disastrous short program at the U.S. Championships in Spokane last January changed all of that. McLaughlin and Brubaker fell from America's best to a dismal 5th place, and were forced to watch the Olympic action from home.

Putting the disappointment of Nationals behind them, the team won silver at the Four Continents Championships in February, and seemed to be back on track for next season. However, it was announced last week that McLaughlin is taking a break from competitive skating to focus on her senior year of high school. Brubaker, 24, now begins the daunting task of searching for a new partner.

This team truly had something special -- that innate star quality that makes you sit up and take notice. They brought a flair and an on-the-edge excitement that wasn't seen in U.S. pairs skating in decades. They will truly be missed by many in the skating community; I wish Keauna the best in her time away from the sport, and I hope Rockne is able to find a partner as soon as possible and, if all goes well and the stars happen to line up just perfectly, qualify for the 2011 U.S. Championships.

In honor of this team, here's their fantastic silver-medal winning free skate from Skate America 2008:

Blast from the past: Michelle Kwan's "Dream of Desdemona"

Every so often, a skating program reaches iconic status. It happened in 1988 with Katarina Witt's sultry "Carmen" free skate, and in 2002-03 with Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao's emotional "Turandot" long program.

America's most decorated skater ever, Michelle Kwan, has an impressive portfolio of iconic programs herself, including the Rachmanninof piano medley short program she used in both 1998 and 2002, and her "Salome" free skate from 1996 -- the program which signaled her arrival as a major international threat, and which won her the gold medal as a 15-year old at the World Championships.

While all these programs are spectacular in their own ways, one program doesn't get as much love or attention from the skating world: Kwan's "Dream of Desdemona" short program from the 1996-97 season. It is another Lori Nichol masterpiece, with intricate choreography and difficult transitions into and out of her required elements, all accentuated by a fantastic piece of music. From the opening spiral sequence to the final death drop spin, it's hard to take your eyes off of the program.



There really isn't a piece of music called "Dream of Desdemona." The program is actually a combination of pieces by composer Jules Massenet. The "Desdemona" part comes from the brilliant thinking of both Kwan and Nichol, as it is a storyline they created to depict the turbulent relationship between two of Shakespeare's most famous characters: Othello and Desdemona.

Perhaps this program doesn't get the recognition it deserves from the skating community because Kwan won no major titles with it. It was used during the 1997 season, a season in which she suffered from growth spurts, injuries and confidence issues -- a season in which Tara Lipinski would sweep the major titles: U.S. Champion, Series Final Champion (now called the Grand Prix Final) and World Champion.

Nonetheless, the program epitomizes classic, beautiful skating with deep edges, gorgeous lines, solid jumps, beautiful spins and, most of all, heart. And while it may not be remembered as one of the best ever, it is certainly one of figure skating's greatest "hidden gems."