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Figure skater Mariah Bell accused of intentionally cutting opponent with skate during warmups

It’s not quite Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, but figure skating may have found its next controversial injury. American skater Mariah Bell has been accused of intentionally cutting an opponent, 16-year-old Korean skater Lim Eun-soo, with her skate during warmups.

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Eun-soo’s agency, All That Sports, claims Bell’s actions were intentional and premeditated, according to Yonhap News Agency. The incident took place as both skaters were warming up for the International Skating Union (ISU) World Figure Skating Championships.

An official from All That Sports who witnessed the collision said Eun-soo was skating near the walls of the rink and away from other skaters. They claim the 22-year-old Bell came up behind Eun-soo and used her skate blade to injure Eun-soo.

The ISU has reviewed video of the incident, however, and determined there was “no evidence that Ms. Bell intended any harm to Ms. Lim.” The ISU also “urged both parties to find an amicable solution.”

People magazine was able to obtain the video, and also concluded the contact was incidental.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Eunsoo Lim of Korea competes in the Junior Ladies Free Skating on day 3 of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating at Eis Arena Salzburg on September 02, 2017 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - ISU/ISU via Getty Images)
Lim Eun-soo was injured by another skater before competing Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Both Bell and Eun-soo train with the same coach, Rafael Arutunian, who said there had been no animosity between Bell and Eun-soo during training sessions.

Gold-medal winner Adam Rippon, who has worked with Bell, defended her on Twitter, tweeting, “What happened in the warm up was an accident. Don’t distract both Eunsoo and Mariah from the competition.”

Bronze medalist Ashley Wagner, who trained with both Bell and Eun-soo last year, said there was no unprofessional behavior during training in an interview with USA Today. Wagner added that it was “absolutely an accident.”

Eun-soo was able to recover from the injury in time to skate Wednesday. She finished in fifth place, one spot ahead of Bell.

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