Speedskating: Coach ordered tampering: Olympian

Nine members of the US short track squad signed a statement supporting Chun, calling the allegations baseless attack.

SALT LAKE CITY: American speed skater Simon Cho, a 2010 Winter Olympic bronze medalist, allegedly tampered with the skates of a rival at a world championship event on the orders of his coach, Chun Jae-Su.

The information was revealed in an arbitration filing on behalf of 13 short track speedskaters trying to have Chun dismissed after allegations of abuse against the former South Korean national coach. The filing claims Chun asked Cho to sabotage Canadian skater Oliver Jean by tampering with his skates before the 5,000-meter relay final at last year’s world short track team championships in Poland.

Cho also allegedly wrote a teammate a note that said of the incident, “It is my darkest secret and I regret it.” Nine members of the US short track squad signed a statement supporting Chun, calling the allegations a baseless attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.