Korean medalists banned in fix scandal
Source: Agencies |
May 7, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO South Korean Olympic medalists in short-track speed skating have been banned from competing for three years for their alleged involvement in a race-fixing scandal, a Korea Skating Union official said yesterday.
The KSU suspended Lee Jung-su and Kwak Yoon-gy from all competitions until April 2013, as punishment for allegedly helping to rig competitions and national team trials in March, the official said.
The official asked not to be identified because the case was ongoing.
The two athletes received notice on Tuesday and have seven days to file an appeal.
The penalty is heavier than the one-year ban proposed by a special joint commission of inquiry that convened last month, made up of representatives from Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Olympic Committee and the KSU.
Jeon Jae-mok, who coached the national team, was permanently expelled from the sport for masterminding results of national team trials, as recommended by the commission.
Lee, 20, who won golds at the Vancouver Olympics in the men's 1,000 and 1,500 meter races, denied all accusations of helping with coach Jeon fix races, saying that he is a victim "of deep-rooted and wrongful practices on the local sport scene", according to a Korea Times report.
Kwak, 21, silver medalist in the men's 5,000-meter relay, admitted the charges.
But this won't be the end for the skaters, the KSU official said. "This is just a proposal rather than a final binding decision by the KSU," said the official.
"This ban will be devastating for the young stars' careers, so I am sure they will appeal and find a way out."
The KSU suspended Lee Jung-su and Kwak Yoon-gy from all competitions until April 2013, as punishment for allegedly helping to rig competitions and national team trials in March, the official said.
The official asked not to be identified because the case was ongoing.
The two athletes received notice on Tuesday and have seven days to file an appeal.
The penalty is heavier than the one-year ban proposed by a special joint commission of inquiry that convened last month, made up of representatives from Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Olympic Committee and the KSU.
Jeon Jae-mok, who coached the national team, was permanently expelled from the sport for masterminding results of national team trials, as recommended by the commission.
Lee, 20, who won golds at the Vancouver Olympics in the men's 1,000 and 1,500 meter races, denied all accusations of helping with coach Jeon fix races, saying that he is a victim "of deep-rooted and wrongful practices on the local sport scene", according to a Korea Times report.
Kwak, 21, silver medalist in the men's 5,000-meter relay, admitted the charges.
But this won't be the end for the skaters, the KSU official said. "This is just a proposal rather than a final binding decision by the KSU," said the official.
"This ban will be devastating for the young stars' careers, so I am sure they will appeal and find a way out."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
