By Kim hyun-cheol
Staff reporter

Two Olympic medal-winning short track skaters involved in a race-rigging scandal are in danger of having their careers ended after the local sport-governing body imposed a three-year ban on each of them.

The Korea Skating Union (KSU) suspended Lee Jung-su and Kwak Yoon-gy from all competitions until April 2013, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday citing a source familiar with the case.

Their punishment, reportedly notified to the athletes the previous day, is heavier than recommended by a special joint committee convened last month.

The committee, comprised of members of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Olympic Committee and the KSU, suggested the two national team members be banned for a year.

Jeon Jae-mok, Kwak's coach, was permanently prohibited from the sport for manipulating races, as the committee originally recommended.

The skaters can appeal the decision within seven days. Upon receiving this, the KSU will launch an additional investigation of the case and decide if its earlier decision should be amended within 30 days.

Lee, 20, and Kwak, 21, allegedly fixed the results of a series of recent competitions including their national team tryout races in March. Lee, however, is strongly denying the charge, saying he is a victim ``of deep-rooted and wrongful practices on the local sport scene.''

In spite of the severity of the punishment, it remains to be seen if the skaters will appeal.

``This is just too harsh. It's like the KSU is forcing them to call it quits as competitive skaters. It's not fair to place that entire burden on young athletes when officials and coaches are actually much more responsible for what happened,'' an official familiar with Lee was quoted as saying.

``But it's not sure whether it will be better for them to opt for an appeal, which could drag the case on for years in the worst scenario.''

Lee was a double gold medalist in the men's 1,000 meters and 1,500 meters at the Vancouver Winter Games, and Kwak won a silver medal in the men's 5,000-meter relay.