By Yoon Chul
Staff reporter
Vancouver Olympics short track skaters Lee Jung-su and Kwak Yoon-gy both received six month suspensions from the sport, Tuesday, on charges of having been involved in race-rigging.
The Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) convened to decide the level of punishment for Lee and Kwak, shortening the period of suspension from a year to six months.
The KOC’s decision will prevent double gold medalist Lee and silver medalist Kwak from taking part in the Winter Asian Games.
The reduced ban gives the pair a better chance to extend their international careers.
Lee and Kwak allegedly fixed the results of a series of recent competitions including their national team tryouts in March, 2009.
The Korea Skating Union (KSU) suspended them for three years at first. The skaters appealed the decision and the committee reduced the suspension to a year.
The two appealed again, with the KOC now having made its final decision.