Judge faces disciplinary action
- Source: Global Times
- [08:48 March 18 2011]
- Comments
Zhang Chenglong (right) and Kim Soo-myun win joint gold at the Guangzhou Asian Games. Photo: AFP
By Liu Xin
The Chinese Gymnastics Association (CGA) Thursday confirmed that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Shao Bin by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), adding they will do everything to cooperate with the body.
"The CGA received an e-mail from the FIG several days ago, informing us that they would start to take disciplinary action against Shao and asking us to inform the judge," said an official statement released by the CGA.
"We made Shao aware of the incident immediately and found that what he did was his own conduct and did not receive authorization from the CGA. The CGA will keep an eye on the case and ask Shao to cooperate with us and the FIG."
According to an FIG statement, Shao, a Chinese men's artistic gymnastics judge, modified an execution score prior to its release during the men's floor final at the Asian Games in Guangzhou last November without informing either the head execution judge or the superior jury.
Shao's action led to Chinese gymnast Zhang Chenglong's promotion from second to first place, tied with South Korea's Kim Soo-myun.
China won all but one of the gymnastics gold medals on offer in Guangzhou, with South Korea's Yang Hak-seon stopping a sweep by the hosts in the men's vault.
"Shao is a qualified international artistic gymnastics judge. He received his license from the FIG after passing all the tests. As the administrative department of the sport of artistic gymnastics in China, the CGA did send Shao to the Guangzhou Asian Games. However, we were totally unaware of what he did at the judging desk that day," a CGA spokeswoman, who refused to be named, told the Global Times.
Asked about Shao's experience, the spokeswoman replied, "Shao has participated in judging work at the Beijing Olympic Games, but only as an NTO (national technical official). That position is assigned by the CGA. Only ITO's (international technical officials) are assigned by the FIG and can take charge of scoring."
