This was the reason why a system of anonymity was introduced as part of wide-ranging reform measures brought into the sport during Cinquanta's reign following the major judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. 

Problems remained, however, with the system of anonymity fermenting lingering suspicions that the sport was outdated and suffered from a lack of openness and transparency, two aspects considered increasingly crucial.

The proposal received near-unanimous support during a branch meeting of figure skating delegates here at the ISU Congress.

Just one voter was thought to be opposed to the change and there was an atmosphere of jubilation among many delegates afterwards, as well as from other members of the skating community.

Cinquanta, officially stepping-down after 22 years when elections to choose a new President are due take place tomorrow, was less sure.

"This Congress went well, except for certain things that have been decided," the Italian told insidethegames.

"For instance, regarding the secrecy of the judges, we tried for many years to render the judges independent.

"If you recognise the nationality of the judge, then you can be sure they have voted so [in a certain pre-ordained way].

"Before, there was anonymity - you had the list of votes without the name of the judge.

"[Scrapping this system is] not transparency.

"This system will permit the leading countries to check whether the second group countries have acted properly or not."

Problems with knowing the identity of judges came to the fore 14 years ago in Salt Lake City when French Ice Sports Federation President Didier Gailhaguet - now one of four candidates standing to replace Cinquanta - was ruled to have put pressure on French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne to favour Russia's Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze in the pairs competition. 

The duo were duly awarded gold over Canada's Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, despite making a clear technical error when Sikharulidze stepped out of a double axel.

It was widely believed that a tacit agreement had been made in which French ice dancing couple Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat would be judged favouribly in return, with the Canadian duo eventually awarded gold medals as well in a special ceremony.

The replacement system, however, led to another huge scandal at Sochi 2014. 

A petition with two million signatures calling for an investigation was set-up after Russia's Adelina Sotnikova was awarded the ladies' individual title over Kim Yuna, despite many believing the South Korea should have won what would have been her second consecutive Olympic title following her victory at Vancouver four years earlier.

There were no details given about the scores of the judges, which only added to the criticism because two of those involved in the decision-making process - including judge Alla Shekhovtsova - were Russian.

Shekhovtsova was also the wife of the former President and current general director of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia, Valentin Piseev, while Ukrainian judge Yuri Balkov had returned to the sport following a one-year suspension after being caught on tape attempting to fix the ice dancing competition at 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. 

"If the judging is transparent it will increase the accountability of the judges," read the successful proposal submitted yesterday by the Norwegian Skating Federation.

"It will attract the media, sponsors and public in a positive way."

Cinquanta was not present for the figure skating meeting yesterday and is far more associated with speed skating.

His concerns do not seem to be widely shared.

The 77-year-old warned, however, that this system could encourage corruption because smaller nations would be powerless to turn down the possibility of financial incentives.

"It's better to not to challenge these people," he told insidethegames. 

"Because the judges are not perfect, much as I regret [this]."

The rule change is due to come into operation with immediate effect.