The International Skating Union (ISU) has cleared American figure skater Mariah Bell of causing intentional harm to her South Korean rival Lim Eun Soo, according to a Reuters report.

No evidence to suggest intentional harm

At the  International Skating Union World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, Bell allegedly stabbed Lim with her skate blades during a warm-up rehearsal.

In a statement, however, the ISU said, "Based on the evidence at hand at this point in time, which includes a video, the ISU stated that there is no evidence to suggest that Bell intended any harm."

Bell supposedly had "right of way" on ice

Skaters typically share the ice on practice sessions and warmups.

And according to a USA Today report, Bell was rehearsing her short programme when the collision occurred. This suggests that Bell had the right of way on the ice and Lim had a responsibility to get out of the way.

According to video evidence, USA Today further stated that Bell was skating backwards at a fast pace with Lim in her path. Hence, she "would not have been able to see Lim".

Rafael Arutunian, who coaches both Lim and Bell, also allegedly told a Russian news agency that Bell's act wasn't intentional.

Apparently, this is what he said, according to a translation:

“The thing is, in this part of the program Mariah moves her leg back a lot and stretches it. Thus she struck Eunsoo Lim’s leg a bit with her blade. Of course it wasn’t intentional.”

Top photo composite image via Instagram @ssong2ni & @team_raf