Friday, February 19, 2016

badminton Olympic badminton: Coaches of disqualified pairs to be investigated


Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli, the Chinese top seeds, were among the eight players disqualified for deliberately losing. Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters

The coaches of the four women's badminton pairs who were disqualified from the Olympics after deliberately trying to lose matches are being investigated, the International Olympic Committee has announced. The Chinese top seeds, two pairs from South Korea and another from Indonesia were all disqualified following a disciplinary hearing by the Badminton World Federation.

The IOC communications director, Mark Adams, said the national Olympic committees of the countries involved had been asked to look at coaches' involvement. "We have asked the NOCs to look into the entourage issues, we have asked that question," he said. "It's important to make sure it's not just the athletes that are punished. The NOCs are making sure those athletes are now leaving the Village and making their way home.

"The overall principle is that the Games are about a good sporting performance and when that doesn't happen we need to take action. I hope a line has been drawn under this and that there is the clear message that if it happens again action will be taken."

The eight players all conceded points on purpose in their final group matches in an attempt to manipulate the draw for the knockout stage of the London 2012 event at Wembley Arena.

The BOA chairman, Lord Moynihan, said the BWF and the IOC now needed to look at the format of the competition. "It is unacceptable for any athlete not to give it their best," he said. "I don't think it is wise to have a format which could create the environment and conditions and I'm sure the BWF, an exceptionally good international federation, will have to look at the implications of this."

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