Stardate 20020223.2235

(On Screen): The French judge who is central to the figure skating judging scandal has done a two hour interview and changed her story again. This makes either the third or fourth account she's offered up; I've lost count. This time she says that it was the Canadians who had been pressuring her. Since she also said at one time that it was her own French skating federation, and also the Russians, and no-one at all, it's difficult to believe her this time. However, she is frank about something else and it rings true:

But the darkest part of that world, Le Gougne said, was her realization that she had nowhere to turn for help. She said that many of those lobbying her were the same people who control the careers of judges and influence their ascent to important international committees. "They have all the power to decide about your career, about promotion and so on," she said. "That is why all judges are so scared. It's about your career. I was trapped."

And if that is the case, then it isn't possible situation for the judging to ever be reliable. No amount of tinkering with the system will change the fact that the judges are under an obligation to those they judge.