USOC says sport's union not in compliance to be a governing body


By MERI-JO BORZILLERI THE GAZETTE

Taekwondo's governing body is close to losing its membership with the
U.S. Olympic Committee, and with it the ability to send its athletes
to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens that begin less than a year from
now.

A USOC committee has determined the Colorado Springs-based U.S.
Taekwondo Union is "not in compliance with the requirements for
membership as an Olympic Sports Organization or recognition as an NGB
(national governing body)."

In an Aug. 1 letter to USTU executive director Bruce Harris, USOC
membership and credentials committee chair Thomas Satrom wrote that
his committee is planning to recommend at the USOC's Oct. 17-19 board
meeting the USTU's charter be revoked.

The USTU is on the membership and credentials committee meeting
agenda for Sept. 12-13, where USTU representatives have a chance to
argue why they should remain in the USOC.

If the USTU is kicked out, athletes like 2000 Olympic gold medalist
and 2003 Pan American Games champion Steven Lopez are still eligible
for the Athens Games. The USOC would likely take over the process of
selecting the U.S. Olympic taekwondo team, said a USOC official.

The USOC has seized temporary control of troubled federations in the
past, like shooting and bobsled. It is uncertain if the USOC has ever
taken the step of naming an Olympic team for a governing body that
lost its membership.

After spending 1988 and 1992 as an Olympic demonstration sport,
taekwondo became a medal sport in 2000. Since then, the biggest U.S.
Olympic stories have been Lopez's gold, and underdog Esther Kim
refusing to fight top-ranked and injured best friend Kay Poe, giving
the 2000 Olympic berth to Poe.

According to Satrom's letter, problems are widespread in the
organization, from trouble with the governance system to fiscal
irresponsibility. Half of the 12 items listed have to do with money.

A phone message to Satrom was not returned.

The committee's review found, among other things, the "lack of any
financial standards or controls," and the "complete disarray of
financial records" at the USTU.

It accused the USTU of the "questionable use of funds (such as
providing loans to employees, payment of questionable volunteer
expenses and chartering aircraft to deliver medals from Korea)." In
addition, it was cited for failing to "fully utilize USOC grants in
2002 and 2003."

The letter also noted a "too large and divisive" board of directors
and control of board appointments by USTU president Sang Lee. Also
listed is "an allegiance to Korea to the detriment of U.S. programs
and the interests of U.S. athletes."

Lee, who coaches at two local taekwondo academies, could not be
reached for comment. Harris did not return phone calls.

Seoul, South Korea, is home to the sport's international federation,
the World Taekwondo Federation. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art
that became a global sport, with Korea dominating early on. But by
the Sydney Olympics, other nations caught up, with Korea winning four
of 24 medals, including three golds.

The WTF, consisting of 173 national governing bodies, was founded in
1973. Dr. Un Yong Kim is WTF president and an influential member of
the International Olympic Committee, where he was was elected one of
four IOC vice-presidents in July.

The membership and credentials committee's review process had already
included examining a compliance form submitted by the USTU, two
meetings with the USTU, written inquiries to which the USTU
responded, a public forum and a USOC audit.

In 1997, the USOC ordered the USTU to repay $265,346 in misspent USOC
grants, and refused to upgrade it to Olympic status for funding
purposes at the time, charging the federation with financial
irregularities and inept management.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0259 or merijo@...