President Ma Ying-jeou expressed firm support Dec. 22 for Taiwanese taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun, saying that the government would do everything within its power to help Yang with her legal defense.
The president made the remarks a day after the World Taekwondo Federation handed Yang a 3-month suspension from competition on the grounds that she wore extra sensors on her socks during a match at this year’s Asian Games in mainland China.
“President Ma has instructed related agencies to seek all possible legal avenues to restore justice and dignity for Yang,” Presidential Office spokesman Luo Chih-chiang said.
The Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council said it would prepare an appeal of the WTF decision before the Jan. 7, 2011, deadline, adding that it would also continue pursuing the complaint over Yang’s case that it filed earlier with the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In related news, the Chinese Taipei Sports Journalism Federation sent a strongly worded letter Dec. 22 to the WTF and other related organizations defending the integrity of Taiwanese media.
The letter was in response to a statement by the WTF accusing local news organizations of attempts “to negatively incite and/or manipulate public perceptions” regarding the Yang controversy.
“Taiwan enjoys freedom of the press and its sports media work independently and autonomously in terms of news coverage,” the letter said.
Yang was expelled Nov. 17 from her first match at the Asian Games for wearing socks with extra sensors that did not meet WTF requirements.
Video footage, however, showed that Yang had already removed the sensors prior to the contest. (HZW)