PyeongChang skiers banned for life over sexual violence

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Mon, April 23, 2018 | 22:34

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PyeongChang skiers banned for life over sexual violence

Posted : 2018-03-15 15:34

Updated : 2018-03-16 17:11

South Korean mogul skier Choi Jae-woo has been accused of sexually harassing female teammates at an international ski competition in Japan on Mar. 3. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

Kim Ji-hyon also faces a sexual harassment charge. / Korea Times file

South Korean Olympic skiers Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon have been banned for life over sexual harassment allegations.

The pair allegedly harassed female teammates during an international competition at the Tazawako Ski Resort in Akita Prefecture, Japan, on Mar. 3-4.

The mogul skiers competed in the men's freestyle event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February.

On March 3, after dropping out of the preliminary runs in Akita, Choi and Kim allegedly drank liquor offered by the event organizers in their room.

They then asked female teammates in the next room to join them. When the offer was refused, Choi and Kim allegedly assaulted two of the women, hoisting them in their arms and dragging them.

The threatened athletes screamed, attracting coaching staff who confined Choi and Kim. Coach Toby Dawson banned the men from competing the next day.

Choi's selfie with Kim Yuna upset fans following his controversial comments about the picture posted on social media during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. / Korea Times file

The Korea Ski Association (KSA) said Wednesday it permanently terminated Kim and Choi's memberships on Mar. 12, effectively banning the pair for life. Registering as skiers with the KSA is the first step in taking part in competitions.

The move comes as the anti-sexual harassment movement #MeToo spreads across South Korea.

At the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Choi, 23, the nation's medal hopeful, advanced to the mogul final but did not finish his second run. Kim failed to qualify.

Choi said then he wanted to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but this would be impossible under the ban.

Choi was criticized after he left a controversial comment on social media below his selfie with former South Korean figure skating gold medalist Kim Yuna in 2014, during the Sochi Winter Olympics.

In this so-called "Kim Yuna mockery case," Choi, seeing that the selfie had stirred a big response among fans, posted a video of South Korean female gymnast Son Yeon-jae and said he "likes this one better."

Fans criticized him for mocking Kim. But he said it was a joke. "It was a misunderstanding and I sincerely respect Kim."

aoshima11@ktimes.com