The Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council has filed a complaint with the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport over Taiwanese taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun’s disqualification at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, mainland China.
“We decided to take action by appealing to the CAS for fairness, rather than passively waiting for the results of the Asian Taekwondo Union’s investigation and the World Taekwondo Federation’s disciplinary committee meeting,” said Sports Minister Tai Hsia-ling Dec. 8.
In a recent interview with Taiwanese media, WTF Secretary-General Yang Jin-suk insisted on Yang’s disqualification for violation of tournament regulations, noting that the athlete’s coach and the Chinese Taipei Taekwondo Association were responsible.
“Judging from such comments, the WTF will not give us a fair and impartial hearing, making it necessary to go to the CAS,” the sports minister said.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting athletes’ rights by all means possible.
Although the SAC has filed a complaint, the sports arbitration authority will not start looking into Yang’s controversial ejection until results of the WTF’s Dec. 18 disciplinary committee meeting come out.
According to CAS regulations, it must reach a final ruling within three months of accepting a case. (THN)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw