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The International Skating Union are conducting a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese figure skaters appeared holding an object resembling a toy ballistic missile during a grand prix figure skating event.

Broadcast footage showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing waiting with a large toy shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” while waiting for the judges' results at the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.

The DF-61 represents a recently introduced China-produced land-based long-range weapon designed for transporting atomic warheads, which was displayed during a national ceremony last month.

“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been among those tossed onto the ice by spectators after a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU commented via a release.

The item was subsequently handled by the athletes after their performance. We regrets this occurrence and will investigate further.”

Ren and Xing finished in eighth place of 10 pairs during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the US.