Olympian Kyoko Ina facing fine, suspension

Barry Wilner, Associated Press, New York

Three-time Olympic pairs figure skater Kyoko Ina is facing a possible lifetime suspension from the sport and a US$1 million fine for refusing to take a drug test. Ina says she merely asked to have the urine test delayed a few hours.

The American Arbitration Association (AAA) rejected Ina's appeal of the ruling, which could lead to the International Skating Union banning her from its events. The suspension could last anywhere from four years to life.

Ina and partner John Zimmerman already have announced that they won't compete in ISU events this season and will tour with Stars on Ice instead.

A representative of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) came to Ina's home unannounced at 10:30 p.m. on July 18. Ina says she was about to go to bed and was unable to provide a urine sample for the test.

Instead, she asked if the USADA representative, Donna Koch, could perform the test the next morning at Ice House, where Ina and Zimmerman train. First, Ina and Koch attempted to call the USADA's 24-hour hot line to ask if that was proper procedure.

"She said I had to sign some papers, but first we called the hot line," Ina said Monday. "There was no answer."

So Ina wrote a note on the USADA forms asking for the delay. Because Koch insisted she could not return the next day without Ina's signature on the forms, the skater signed.

The USADA, according to Ina's lawyer, Edward Williams, took that signature as a refusal to be tested.

"I couldn't (provide a urine sample), but I never refused to take the test and I never told her to leave," Ina said. "I told her I would give her the sample when I could, but that I was done for the evening.

"They never showed at Ice House during normal hours. But they decided to show up at 10:30 at night at my house. When I asked the USADA representative how often they came to someone's house at such hours, the answer was never."

Williams also said Koch's USADA credentials were expired when she visited Ina's house, and that Koch told Ina the penalty for refusing to take a drug test is a two-year suspension.

Williams added that Ina plans to bring the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Terry Madden, the CEO of the USADA, said the sanction was "appropriate" and said the would have no further comment until the AAA ruling is made public later this week.

"It is not appropriate for either party to comment until the full opinion is released," Madden said. "However the CAS (AAA) panel, after reviewing all the evidence, found Miss Ina's actions to be a refusal to provide a sample and a violation of the rules, and therefore a sanction is appropriate."

The U.S. Figure Skating Association said it would not comment until the appeals process has run its course.

Ina skated in the 1994 and '98 Olympics with pairs partner Jason Dungjen, then with Zimmerman in Salt Lake City in February. She said she has been tested for drugs "dozens of times and passed them all."

"There have been a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications," said Ina, who underwent shoulder surgery last month.