Taiwanese taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun called the latest World Taekwondo Federation ruling unacceptable after learning Dec. 21 it had banned her for three months from competition.
The WTF handed Yang the suspension on the grounds that she wore extra sensors on her socks during a match at this year’s Asian Games in mainland China.
Though the ruling will not have any effect on Yang’s intention to compete in the 2012 Olympics, the popular athlete nevertheless expressed her strong disappointment in the decision.
“I cannot accept that the WTF has failed to clear my name,” she said. “When other athletes look at me now, they will think I’m a cheat.”
Her coach, Liu Tsung-ta, was given a 20-month suspension because he refused to leave the competition area after Yang had already been disqualified by the referees.
“I also feel very badly for my coach,” Yang said. “Any coach in similar circumstances would have done the same thing.”
The Chinese Taipei Taekwondo Association was also fined US$50,000 for negligence and wrongdoing.
Tai Hsia-ling, minister of the Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council, called the penalties given to Yang and Liu “very severe.”
The SAC said it would continue pursuing the compliant it has filed with the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport over Yang’s case.
Yang was expelled Nov. 17 from her first match at the Asian Games for wearing socks with extra sensors that did not meet WTF requirements.
Video footage, however, showed that Yang had already removed the sensors prior to the contest.
Yang, Liu and representatives of the CTTA were all present to plead her case during the WTF hearing held Dec. 18 in Seoul, South Korea. (HZW)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw