Korea Weightlifting Federation Files Official Complaint

Korea Weightlifting Federation (President Yeo Mu-nam) is seeking an official reprimand regarding judgment in the women’s 75+ kg competition in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

On August 23, the Korea Weightlifting Federation (KWF) stated in an official complaint to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), “The results, once delivered, cannot be reversed, so there is no choice but to concede. However, as long as there is clear acknowledgement of a problem, disciplinary action, such as the suspension of qualifications for judges and jury members, should be discussed.”

In the 75+ kg competition held on August 21, the Korean team introduced the problem by pointing out that the gold medalist, Tang Gonghong (China), while performing the third attempt at 182.5kg jerk, lifted the weight without pause, twisting her upper body and arms. If Tang’s third attempt had been judged as a fail, Jang Mi-ran (Wonju City Hall) would have had the gold.

IWF executive committee member, Heo Rok, and the vice president of KWF said that after investigating the judgment on Tang’s last jerk attempt, it was found that three judges cleared the lift. However, of the five jury members, four voted the lift a success and one as a fail.

KWF Vice President Kwon Oh-shik said, “The president of the IWF, along with the officers, already acknowledged that there was fault in the judging. It is likely that an executive committee will be formed to discuss the possibilities of an Olympic ban and qualifications revocation of the judges and jury members.”

On the other hand, the international fencing governing body Federation Internationale d’Escrime (FIE) held a meeting of the executive board of directors on August 22 and ordered a two-year suspension of Joseph Hidashi (Hungary), who refereed the men’s fleuret team finals the day before. According to the FIE analysis of the video tape, Hidashi made four misjudgments in the second round and two in the fifth round of the finals.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com