Canada appeals for extra gold

Sale and Pelletier could yet receive a gold medal

Canadian officials have appealed against the result of Monday night's controversial pairs figure skating that saw the Russian duo win gold ahead of Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has registered its objections with both the International Skating Union (ISU) and the independent Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS).

But Marilyn Chidlow, head of Skate Canada, said they did not want to have Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze stripped of their gold medal.

Instead they want to see a second gold awarded to Canada's world champion pairing of Sale and Pelletier.

"We don't want to take a medal away from an athlete," said Chidlow.

The suggestion has not been ruled out by Olympic officials.

"The IOC will consider any request from the ISU," president Jacques Rogge said, referring to the International Skating Union.

IOC member Kevan Gosper said the committee has not discussed such a proposal, but added: "I'm not saying it can't happen."

ISU president Ottavio Cinquanta said it would be "very difficult, not impossible," to award another gold to the Canadians.

Allegations and denials

Chidlow also admitted that the Canadians had no first-hand knowledge of any wrong doing by the judges on Monday night.

"We have only second-hand information," she said.

Mike Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Association (COA), said regardless of what information they had, the appeal would go ahead as planned.

"We will not be withdrawing it," he insisted.

Mike Chambers, president of the COA, prepares their appeal

The appeals will be heard by the CAS on Friday and the ISU council on Monday.

Earlier on day six of the Games, ISU president Cinquanta confirmed that Monday night's referee, American Ronald Pfenning, had made a written allegation against one of the judges.

Cinquanta said he had spoken to the judge, who he refused to name, and put the charges to them.

"I have an allegation, not proof, I have a denial," said Cinquanta.

Cinquanta also confirmed that the sport's governing body will be launching an inquiry into the pairs final, but he insisted that he could not overturn the result.

"I was embarrassed by the result but still do not think we are in the presence of a scandal," he said.

"I have not the power to change the result, we cannot change the result of the competition."