The U.S. Figure Skating Association endorsed the principles of a splinter group that wants to replace the International Skating Union.

According to meeting minutes, the USFSA's executive committee voted 8-0 last Tuesday to endorse "the principles of the World Skating Federation, including: athlete and coach representation, geographic representation, transparency, ethics, accountability, integrity, and zero tolerance.''

The executive committee also unanimously approved a resolution stating that it couldn't endorse the group itself because it had "neither the time nor the opportunity to be fully informed'' about the WSF.

"It's very important that we have this initial endorsement of our principles,'' Ron Pfenning, acting president of the WSF, said Monday.

"We can't ask anyone to join, obviously, because it could jeopardize the member and potentially their athletes, and we will never ask a member to put their athletes in jeopardy,'' Pfenning added. "The task we have before us is to get the majority of members to endorse our principles.''

Phyllis Howard, president of the USFSA, wasn't immediately available for comment.

Backed by some of skating's biggest names, the WSF announced its formation last Tuesday with the goal of replacing the ISU as the sport's governing body. The WSF claims the sport has lost credibility and integrity under current ISU leaders, particularly with the use of an anonymous, interim scoring system this season.

The WSF faces a daunting task in winning recognition from the International Olympic Committee. The endorsement or support of individual national federations could help, especially one as large as the USFSA.

But when WSF co-founder Jon Jackson announced last Tuesday that the USFSA's executive committee had voted to endorse the breakaway federation's principles, the USFSA quickly denied it. In a release, the USFSA cited its resolution not to support the group itself, saying "it would be inaccurate and untrue for anyone to suggest that the USFSA leadership has endorsed the proposed new entity.''

Pfenning said he was disappointed the USFSA made its one motion public without the other, but was happy to get the endorsement.

"I'm very optimistic that it's the first of many,'' he said. "Getting the first one is always the most difficult.''