Olympics: Chinese cycling team fined for ignoring orders

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Victoria Pendleton of Great Britain leads Shuang Guo of China in the Women

London, Aug 4 (IANS) Chinese national cycling team was fined 200 CHF (Swiss franc) for failing to respect instructions from the commissaire for standing on the judges’ podium, said a communique issued by the cycling commissaires here.

According to the communique Friday, all the teams are reminded that no team members are allowed on the judges’ podium during competition, all inquires regarding decisions have to be made at the end of the competition, and no team members are allowed on the starters podium, stairs, ramps or railings during competition, reports Xinhua.

It also said that there are no appeals to decisions made by the panel, which means it denied Chinese cycling team’s appeal for the relegated silver.

Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie had claimed what would have been a first Olympic cycling gold for China in the women’s team sprint, only to be relegated soon after for an “illegal changeover” Thursday.

Chinese cycling national team appealed to the UCI and International Olympic Committee for the relegation Friday.