International Federation Finds Team Canada Manipulated Race to Block Katie Uhlaender’s Olympic Qualification
An investigation by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has concluded that Team Canada intentionally manipulated the field of a North American Cup race in Lake Placid, effectively thwarting American skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender’s bid for a record-breaking sixth Winter Olympics. The controversy stems from a strategic decision by Canadian coaches to withdraw four athletes from the competition earlier in January 2026, a move that dropped the number of competitors below the critical threshold of 21.
Under IBSF rules, races with fewer than 21 participants award only 75% of the standard ranking points. Although Uhlaender won the race, the reduced point total left her mathematically unable to surpass teammate Mystique Ro for the final U.S. Olympic roster spot for the Milan Cortina Games.
“The action of the Canadians was intentional and directed to reducing the points available to athletes,” the IBSF stated in its findings, confirming that the withdrawals were designed to protect Canadian quota spots rather than for legitimate competitive reasons. Despite this finding, the federation initially ruled that no specific regulations were violated that would automatically trigger a restoration of the lost points.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton officials defended the decision, asserting that the withdrawals were made “after careful evaluation of the program’s needs” and were motivated by concerns for “athlete health, safety, and long-term development.” This official stance was contradicted by Canadian skeleton athlete Madeline Parra, who told reporters that coaches explicitly informed the team that the withdrawals were a strategic maneuver to manipulate the points system in favor of teammate Jane Channell.
Uhlaender, a 41-year-old former World Champion who finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi Games, is now pursuing a discretionary “wild card” entry from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Her appeal argues that penalizing her for another nation’s unethical conduct undermines the integrity of the sport. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has formally supported her petition, joined by Olympic committees from over a dozen other nations, including Denmark, South Korea, and Israel.
As of late January, the IOC has indicated it plans to defer to the international federation’s governance, leaving Uhlaender’s participation in doubt. She has stated she is considering a final legal challenge through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, emphasizing that her goal is to ensure fair play rather than to displace any currently qualified American athletes. “Standing up for ethics and integrity may be difficult, but it matters,” Uhlaender said.
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