Communication No. 2265
ISU Code of Ethics – Requirements for acting ISU Officials - Invitation ofISU Office Holders and ISU Officials to attend Skating Competitions asGuests
In accordance with the powers conferred upon it by Article 17 paragraphs 1.a), 1.r) and 1.u) of the ISU
Constitution, the ISU Council has adopted this Communication containing certain specifications andclarifications of the ISU Code of Ethics (ISU Communication No. 2215).
Article 10, paragraph 1 of the ISU Code of Ethics requires all persons subject to the Code to avoid any
conflict of interest and to refrain from placing themselves in any situation which could reasonably beconceived to create a conflict of interest. The purpose of this Communication is to clarify thisrequirement specifically with respect to acting Figure Skating Officials and to invitations of ISU OfficeHolders and ISU Officials as guests to Skating competitions.
1. Technical Panel Officials and Referees
Due to the material impact which the members of Technical Panels and Referees can have on theoutcome and the results of Figure Skating competitions, they are particularly susceptible of being
perceived to be in a conflict of interest situation, especially with respect to ISU Grand Prix Series
events and the ISU Grand Prix Final, ISU Championships and Olympic Winter Games. In order toavoid potential conflict of interest situations, the following principles shall apply:
1.1 No individual shall serve as a member of the Technical Panel or Referee in any discipline of any
ISU Senior and Junior Grand Prix Series event, the ISU Junior and Senior Grand Prix Final, any
ISU Championships and Olympic Winter Games in which a Skater participates with whom themember of the Technical Panel or the Referee has a special relationship. Such a special
relationship can be created e.g. by family relations (see Rule 121, paragraph 3.k) ii) 5.);
godparenthood; close friendship with or personal animosity against a Skater, his/her parents,
other relatives or Coaches; and, in the case of individuals who are Technical Specialists andAssistant Technical Specialists who are also active as Coaches, there may be a strong rivalry witha Coach of a Skater. In addition, a Coach who is coaching a Skater in a Senior Grand Prix event
shall not serve as a member of the Technical Panel at any other Senior Grand Prix event and theJunior and Senior Grand Prix Final of the same season; and a Coach who is coaching a Skater ina Junior Grand Prix event shall not serve as a member of the Technical Panel at any other Junior
Grand Prix event and the Junior and Senior Grand Prix Final of the same season.
1.2 The above examples are not exhaustive. It is the responsibility of each Official assigned to serve
as a member of a Technical Panel or as the Referee to assess whether he/she could be perceived
to be in a conflict of interest situation. In case of doubt, he/she shall promptly address the situation
with the Vice President for Figure Skating to determine whether a potential conflict of interestexists. It is important to note that not only actual conflicts of interest need to be avoided, but
specifically also situations which could reasonably appear as conflict of interest to any third party.

11.3 Concerned individuals shall inform the ISU Vice President Figure Skating at their earliest
convenience of any potential conflict of interest situations described in points 1.1 and 1.2 above.
If such a conflict of interest seems likely to arise, the concerned individual shall mention thissituation on the availability form. If the likelihood of a conflict of interest situation arises only lateror during the ongoing season, the ISU Vice President Figure Skating shall be informed
immediately.
1.4 No individual shall serve as a member of the Technical Panel or as the Referee at the Olympic
Winter Games in a discipline in which Skaters/Pairs/Ice Dance couples of his/her own ISU
Member participate who has/have placed 1 – 5 at the ISU World Championships in theimmediately preceding season or who can reasonably be expected to place 1 – 5 at the respective
Olympic Winter Games.
1.5 When appointing the members of the Technical Panel and the Referees for ISU SeniorChampionships, whenever possible, there shall be no appointments of Officials from ISU
Members whose Skaters can reasonably be expected to place 1 – 5 in the respective discipline.
In case this is not possible, all members of the Technical Panel and the Referee for the respective
discipline shall, whenever possible, be from ISU Members whose Skater(s) can reasonably beexpected to place 1 – 5 in the respective discipline at the ISU Championships concerned.
1.6 No individual appointed to serve as Technical Controller, Technical Specialist, Assistant TechnicalSpecialist or Referee at the Olympic Winter Games shall serve as Technical Controller, TechnicalSpecialist, Assistant Technical Specialist or Referee in any discipline whatsoever at the nationalchampionships or any other national competition of an ISU Member, other than his/her own, which
will likely participate at the Olympic Winter Games during the same season.
1.7 ISU Member Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Directors General/Secretaries, Sport Directors shall notserve as a member of the Technical Panel or Referee at any ISU Championships, any ISU Senior
Grand Prix event, ISU Grand Prix Final Junior and Senior or Olympic Winter Games during theentire time of his or her elected/appointed period of service in the respective above-mentioned
ISU Member function.
2. Judges
2.1 No individual shall serve as a Judge at the Olympic Winter Games who has served as Referee,Technical Controller, Technical Specialist, Assistant Technical Specialist or Judge in any
discipline whatsoever at the national championships or any other national competition of an ISU
Member, other than his/her own, which is participating in any Figure Skating event at the Olympic
Winter Games during the same season.
2.2 ISU Member Presidents shall not officiate as a Judge at any ISU Championships, any ISU Senior
Grand Prix event, ISU Grand Prix Final Junior and Senior or Olympic Winter Games during theentire time of his or her elected/appointed period of service as an ISU Member President.
3. Gifts and Favors – Invitations to attend Skating Competitions as Guest
Besides their ISU Event attendance performing ISU functions in line with ISU Rules, Expense
Guidelines and approved budgets, ISU Office Holders and ISU Officials are sometimes invited byorganizing ISU Members to attend ISU Events as guests. While it is desirable that ISU Office Holdersand ISU Officials follow such ISU Events and stay closely connected to the sport, it is neverthelessmandatory to strictly observe the limits imposed under Article 9 of the ISU Code of Ethics concerning
offering and accepting gifts and favors. In this context, the following rules must be respected:
It is permissible for organizing ISU Members to invite ISU Office Holders and ISU Officials as guests
to ISU Events and for ISU Office Holders and ISU Officials to accept such invitations, with the following
restrictions:2-No ISU Office Holder/ISU Official may participate as a guest at more than two ISU Events
during any season unless an exception has been granted by the ISU President for specialreasons.

-ISU Office Holders/Officials must inform the ISU Secretariat at least 14 days in advance of any
ISU Event which they intend to attend as a guest.

-The organizing ISU Member may provide accreditation, transportation from and to theairport/train station and to/from the ice rink, meals and accommodation at the official hotel(s)and invite its guests to official functions such as welcome parties and closing banquets, to offer
them the usual welcome kits and special gifts and benefits such as entertainment, if the total
value of such special gifts and benefits does not exceed two hundred Swiss Francs. All otherexpenses, in particular travel costs, have to be borne by the invited ISU Office Holder/ISUOfficial unless an exception has been granted by the ISU President for special reasons.
However, if the invited ISU Office Holder/ISU Official at the same time fulfills other functions at
the occasion of the respective competition, e.g. moderating a seminar, his/her travel costs may
be borne by the organizing ISU Member on the basis of economy class air fare, provided therespective engagement for such other function is for at least one full day.

4. Any violation of the above rules is subject to disciplinary proceedings and sanctions in accordancewith Article 25 of the ISU Constitution and Article 17 of the ISU Code of Ethics.

Tubbergen,Lausanne,

July, 1, 2019

Jan Dijkema, President
Fredi Schmid, Director General3