US speedskater says coach ordered tampering

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AFP) –

American speedskater Simon Cho, a 2010 Winter Olympic bronze medalist, allegedly tampered with the skates of a rival at a world championship event on orders of his coach, Chun Jae-Su

American speedskater Simon Cho, a 2010 Winter Olympic bronze medalist, allegedly tampered with the skates of a rival at a world championship event on orders of his coach, Chun Jae-Su.

The information was revealed in an arbitration filing on behalf of 13 short track speedskaters trying to have Chun dismissed as coach of the national team after allegations of abuse against the former South Korean national coach.

The filing claims Chun asked Cho to sabotage Canadian skater Oliver Jean by tampering with his skates before the 5,000-meter relay final at last year’s world short track team championships in Poland.

A problem with Jean’s blades meant Canada could only send three skaters onto the ice.

Cho also allegedly wrote a teammate a note that said of the incident: “It is my darkest secret and I regret it.”

Chun was suspended last weekend pending the results of an investigation by attorneys in the charges filed against him.

Nine members of the US short track squad signed a statement supporting Chun that calls the abuse allegations a false, baseless attack.

A US Olympic Committee spokesman said the organization is probing allegations that Chun slammed an athlete against a wall, threw bottles and chairs at skaters, and told women skaters they were “fat.”

Chun faces no criminal charges from police.