Taiwan hits back in IOC candidacy ruling
Taiwan’s Olympic Committee has continued to use every possible means to challenge the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to end local taekwondo Olympic medalist Chu Mu-yen’s candidacy for a spot on the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
Chu was dropped from the list of candidates on charges that he distributed lollipops to voters.
Aside from two protest letters to the IOC demanding an explanation for Chu’s disqualification, Taiwan also presented a new piece of evidence accusing Australian rowing great James Tomkins, one of the elected members, of using campaign methods that were against IOC rules, Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Secretary-General Chen Kuo-yi told media in London Monday.
The new piece of evidence Taiwan sent to the IOC is a photograph showing Tomkins standing beside a kangaroo mascot during his campaign in London for a position on the same Athletes’ Commission, according to reports.
The Australian is accused of violating an election rule that forbids the use of any devices that aid candidates in their campaigns. The Olympic body has not made any official response to Taiwan’s claims.
The IOC has insisted that Chu was excluded from the candidacy because he distributed lollipops to voters in his bid to get elected – a move they said runs contrary to the election rules.
On Sunday, Chu spoke at an emergency conference in London, denying the IOC’s allegations that he gave away free lollipops during his campaign.
According to Chu, he did receive a warning letter from the IOC on July 26, claiming he had distributed lollipops to the athletes to get their support. Chu said he already told the IOC on August 10 that he had never given lollipops to anyone.
He did, however, admit to using an iPad. Chu said he used the device to explain the voting process to London Games athletes, who were also voters.
The use of any devices to aid candidates in their campaigns is forbidden, a rule that Chu said he didn’t know.
“I stopped using the iPad once I received the warning letter on July 26,” he said.
Like Chu, Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi was also excluded from the candidacy by the IOC for showing material about himself to voters.
Murofushi denied the allegation and the Japanese Olympic Committee has officially appealed the IOC’s decision.
Both Chu and Murofushi were originally placed in the top four among 21 candidates seeking eight-year terms as IOC members.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2012/08/14/350873/Taiwan-hits.htm
Category: Taiwan
