The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has been plagued with more controversy this week after a Chinese skater has been accused of deliberately tripping a Canadian opponent in a chaotic 500m speed skating race.
Chinese skater Fan Kexin has been accused of purposely tripping Canadian Alyson Charles during the 500m race on Monday with the use of a marker.
Footage that is circulating on social media appears to show Kexin reaching over a skater and pushing a marker with her hand towards Charles as the group make their way round a bend.
The marker then slides under the Canadian’s skate causing her to fall to the ice, which subsequently ruled them both out of the race.
Following the chaos on the Beijing track, a number of fans on Twitter were quick to call out the controversy that saw Charles wiped out from the race.
One Twitter user - @Checofan19 - accused the Chinese athlete of cheating, as they posted: “Fan Kexin literally pushed the marker on the Canadians! What are you talking about lol, she cheated”
These thoughts were echoed by many other sports fans, including @JEmbury3 who tweeted : “Anybody else see the women’s short track speed skating event here a Canadian skater Florence Brunelle was disqualified because a Chinese skater FAN Kexin cheated?
“It may just be sports but it’s criminal.”
“Recheck the video footage… it’s was the Chinese competitor who flicks the marker into the path of the Alyson Charles, not Florence… she doesn’t actually touch it in any way… Fan’s arm is in front of Florence obstructing then hits the marker with her hand then flicks it,” Twitter user Glen Molloy said.
Following Charles’ fall, fellow Canadian Kim Boutin went on to win the semi-final race, whilst fellow Canadian Florence Brunelle came in second.
What did you make of the incident? Let us know in the comments section.
The controversy however was far from over though, as Brunelle was then disqualified by the judges, after she was ruled to have tripped both Charles and Fan during the race.
This meant Italian Arianna Valcepina came second to qualify, whilst Charles also earned a qualification spot after being in second when falling.
In the final Italy’s Arianna Fontana took home the gold medal, whilst Netherlands’ Suzanne Schulting picked up silver, and Australia’s Boutin grabbed bronze.
