LONDON--Two candidates voted by London Games athletes to represent them as International Olympic Committee members have been removed from the election for breaking rules by campaigning too hard.
Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi and Taiwanese taekwondo fighter Chu Mu-yen had their results wiped after finishing in the top four of a 21-candidate poll.
IOC Athletes Commission chairman Frank Fredericks said both athletes received earlier written warnings before the IOC Executive Board withdrew them on Aug. 11.
The Japan Olympic Committee claimed that Murofushi was being punished for calling up the IOC website on his iPad to explain the committee to an athlete.
But JOC official Yasuhiro Nakamori countered that the Japanese committee has photographic evidence proving that Murofushi was not showing material about himself, as he was accused of doing.
“He was in no way promoting his own candidature,'' Nakamori said.
The Japanese were planning to lodge an official complaint.
“It's a real shame about this election. I still don't know the truth of the matter but I would like to thank everybody for their support,'' Murofushi said. “From now on I will concentrate my energies on work, not for the IOC, but for the JOC.''
Chu said he received a letter from the IOC two weeks ago claiming he had distributed sweets to athletes.
“At noon of August 10th, I explained to the IOC that I have never given any lollipops to anyone,'' he said. “At the same time, I honestly did tell them I had used my iPad to explain to other athletes the IOC procedures of this voting, but I stopped doing it after I received the warning letter on July 26.''
With Murofushi and Chu removed, the newly elected IOC members are: Danka Bartekova (Slovakia, shooting); James Tomkins (Australia, rowing); Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe, swimming); Tony Estanguet (France, canoeing).
They will serve eight-year terms.
- « Prev
- 1
- Next »
