Late yesterday, the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) formally apologized for an inflammatory article on its Web site accusing Taiwan’s Yang Shu-chun (楊淑君) of cheating. The ATU’s Thai vice president and Iranian deputy -secretary-general offered the apology to the Taiwan team on behalf of the Seoul-based organization, said Chen Chien-ping (陳建平), president of the Chinese Taipei Taekwondo Association.
The ATU Web site was attacked by hackers on Friday after it carried a statement which condemned the Taiwan team for a “shocking act of deception,” even though an official inquiry was pending.
Protests in Taiwan have raged since medal hopeful Yang was controversially disqualified from the taekwondo competition over allegations that she wore two detachable, electronic sensors attached to the outside of each of her socks.
The fight went on after the sensors were removed. However, the bout was stopped and Yang was disqualified when she was leading 9-0 in the first round in the women’s under 49kg match against a Vietnamese opponent.
According to Games officials, fighters wear socks with sensors to help the electronic system score points when they hit other sensors on the opponent’s body gear. Extra sensors can boost scoring chances, the officials said.
Taiwan reacted with rage to the controversy.
“As the ATU, we have nothing to decide now,” said ATU president Lee Dai-soon, who added that his organization was still waiting for a formal report from the competition’s supervisory committee.
However, he said about the overall situation: “I’m really sorry that such an unhappy incident has happened.”
World Taekwondo Federation secretary-general Yang Jin-suk said a full inquiry would be held into the incident, although a final decision would only be made once the Games conclude on Nov. 27.
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