Hi, All.

The US Speedskating Fall Board Meeting is over, and here are a few items of
importance for you.

1. The 3,000 meters has been added back into the US Senior Championships in
December. This is a result of changes for the World Championships arrived at
during the International Skating Union (ISU) "Congress" this past summer.

2. New this year, both at the World Championships and the US Senior
Championships: During the 3000 finals (both A and B finals) the skater who is
in front after the first 1,000 meters (9 laps) will receive bonus points for the
race. In the US Senior Championships, this means a bonus of 150 Final Points in
the A Final, and 25 Final Points in the B Final. Additionally, should that
skater leading after (9 the first laps) be disqualified, or not finish the race,
no bonus points will be awarded (that skater does not get them nor does the
skater who was in second after the 9 laps, etc.).

3. Starting now, no video taping will be allowed by anyone, without a media
credential issued by US Speedskating. Information about this new rule will be
sent out by USS shortly.

4. The relay at the World Junior Championships will now be 3,000 meters and not
2,000 meters as it has been in the past. Therefore, the World Junior Team will
now have four (4) skaters. And the 4th skater will also serve as the Alternate
should one of the other skaters drop out of the competition.

5. The North American Short Track Championships IS required for both Junior and
Senior Category One status, just as it was last season.

6. For the Olympic Trials (next September in Marquette), all skins and warmup
jackets, etc. will be required to be free of any advertising. This does not
include trademarks for the manufacturer of the item, such as Marchese being on
the skates, etc. Also, it does not include club or association logos and text,
only advertising.

7. Lastly, those Cat 1 skaters requiring the use of an inhaler (for asthma,
etc.) must now register with the appropriate parties (USADA and the ISU) by
January 1st of next year. This is what is called the "Long Form", a higher step
than current (the TUE Abrevriated Form), and apparently requires a visit to a
doctor. Details about this new requirement will be put out by soon USS, but
since it will require a visit to a physician, you should know about this now.
Oh, and the good news is that the form is good for 4 years.

From the USADA website (Link on the SCSSA website): Therapeutic Use Exemption
This process provides a way for athletes to seek permission to use a medically
necessary prohibited medication (except for glucocorticosteroids by inhalation
or local injection and beta-2 agonists for asthma or exercise induced asthma,
see ATUE). As an example, this TUE process would be used for any athlete
requesting permission to use a stimulant for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Please review the WADA TUE information at www.usantidoping.org, or call
(719)785-2045 with any questions. To submit a TUE use fax number (719) 785-2029.


For more detailed information on these and other items, check out the new issue
of Ice Chips, which will be available on the USS website in a week or so. You
should receive a USS News email when Ice Chips gets posted.

Jerry