MOSCOW, June 27, Andrey Vasilchin. The sexy one is acquiring piquant details a scandal in which the leading figure skaters of South Korea found themselves. One of them, silver medalist of the 2023 World Championship Lee Hae In, admitted that it was she who received a three-year disqualification from the national federation, but disputed its fairness.
The incident that resulted in such harsh sanctions occurred in May during a meeting of the South Korean national figure skating team in the Italian city of Varese. His heroes — or, more precisely, anti-heroes — according to the first dry statement of the national federation, were two adult “skaters A and B”, as well as a minor junior — “skater C”. Officials first became aware that “Skater A” and “Skater B” were drinking alcoholic beverages in their room. But then it turned out that, in addition to alcohol, there were other “all sorts of bad excesses”: “skater A” was convicted of “inappropriate sexual behavior” towards “skater C”, and “skater B” was engaged in photographing her friend from indecent angles .
In general, those who are involved in the lives of athletes at training camps know that, as they say, anything can happen, but more often than not, educational measures from the elders are not made public. They just, as they say, set their minds straight and move on. But in this case, the South Korean Figure Skating Federation decided to arrange an exemplary flogging. The actions of «skater A» were assessed as three years of disqualification and deprivation of the status of a professional athlete for this period, «skater B» took photos for one year of disqualification, and «skater C» was reprimanded for coming into a room with people of the opposite sex. The head coach of the team received a three-month suspension for not keeping an eye on the frolicking youth at the training camp.
After that message, two main questions remained unanswered. The first is who is hiding behind the letters A, B and C? And the second is whether this is the final punishment? After all, three years of disqualification is, by today's standards, close to the end of a sports career. Try to get into shape after that. And a year of missing competitions and training is also not a small amount.
As a result, it soon became known that both skaters demanded a re-examination of the case by the ethics commission of the national federation. And fans and journalists have already figured out who they are. There were only two adult athletes present at that training camp, and since the messages indicated their ages, there was no other option but to recognize “Skater A” as the 2023 World Championships silver medalist Lee Hae In, and “Skater B” as the winner of the junior championship. Olympics 2020 and participant of the Games 2022 in Beijing Yu Young. As for “skater C,” two juniors came to Italy, and with a 50% probability it could be the current world junior champion So Mingyu.
On Thursday, the first official confirmation of the identity of one of the participants in the scandalous story appeared. “Skater A” indeed turned out to be the currently most titled current representative of South Korea – Lee Hae In. She published a post on social networks and also gave interviews to the media, where she explained what happened. According to the athlete, she deeply regrets drinking alcohol at the training camp, but accusations of molestation or even violence against a minor against her are not true.
“Last year he was my boyfriend, but we broke up at the request of my parents,” Lee Hae In wrote in a publication where instead of a photo there was a black square. “We met again at these training camps and felt sympathy for each other, but decided to keep “It’s a secret so that my parents don’t find out. Even when the federation was conducting an investigation, I didn’t say that I was dating my boyfriend, but when I heard that I had molested a teenager, the world collapsed for me.”
The athlete said that she considers a three-year disqualification to be an excessive punishment and hopes for a review of the case.
Comments from the Korean figure skater’s lawyer also appeared, which he gave to the News1 TV channel. «Ms. Li admitted to committing the offense of drinking alcohol. But the fact of child molestation is not true, since it was an act of love by mutual consent. This must be corrected. Since last year, these athletes were in a relationship, then separated. At the training camp they met and got in touch again,” the lawyer noted. He stressed that the behavior of the young athletes seemed strange to officials who did not know about their relationship, which is why the accusation of “inappropriate sexual behavior” arose. The lawyer also stated that Lee Hae In's punishment should be reconsidered due to the facts revealed.
Lee Hae In was reported to have filed an appeal against the disciplinary action on Wednesday. It must be reviewed within two months. “Skater B” also protested her punishment, but she did not make any official statements, so there is no official confirmation yet whether Yoo Young is really her. Well, “skater S” is keeping quiet for now — although, perhaps, he should still act like a man and stand up for his beloved. I would immediately turn from a junior to an adult.
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