"Forced to Participate in International Competitions? The Athlete Wanted It Herself"
Sports Council Forms Investigation Committee Following An Se-young's Allegations
Se-young An (22, Samsung Life), the gold medalist in badminton at the 2024 Paris Olympics, directly criticized the Badminton Korea Association (Badminton Association), and Lee Ki-heung, the president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stated, "Se-young An clearly has something she wants to say, but it seems she was clumsy in expressing it."
On the 9th, during CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' President Lee said, "I have received reports from coaches and leaders involved in this incident about An's injury and training since the Hangzhou Asian Games," adding, "It is clear that we have provided closer support to Se-young An, and this is all documented with data." He continued, "The national badminton team consists of about 20 to 30 players, and including juniors and reserves, there are around 300 players," adding, "If support is given only to one side, other players may feel discriminated against."
President Lee claimed, "Communication is impossible because Se-young An does not speak," and "We tried to contact her even at the athletes' village, but we could not hear her side of the story."
Regarding the injury management issues that Se-young An complained about, he insisted that she received sufficient treatment. President Lee explained, "Even though Se-young An could receive adequate treatment in Paris, she wanted to get acupuncture from a Korean medicine doctor in Gangnam, Seoul, so we even brought that doctor to Paris."
Regarding the claim that the national team coach blocked continuous rehabilitation, he said, "Rehabilitation is supposed to be done by the national team, the athletes' village, and the team." President Lee added, "In cases where a player has a personal therapist, it is sometimes allowed, but generally, the medical office at the athletes' village is more reliable because there are five doctors, 20 physical therapists, and staff at the medical science center."
Regarding allegations that Se-young An was forced to participate in international competitions despite a serious knee injury, he said, "An claims she participated in training and competitions unwillingly, but that is completely false." President Lee stated, "On the contrary, the association suggested she should protect her body more, but she said she was fine and wanted to compete," adding, "I have not seen all the messages due to the volume, but there is evidence."
On the controversy about being forced to wear a specific sponsor's shoes that did not fit her feet, he responded, "Each federation has its own sponsorships, so it is not something we interfere with, but if there is such a problem, the system should be improved." However, President Lee claimed, "Until now, we have produced international players like Lee Yong-dae, but there have been no such complaints."
Finally, President Lee said, "We will identify what Se-young An wanted to say and take reasonable measures." Currently, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has formed an investigative committee consisting of four external audit experts, including an auditor from the Board of Audit and Inspection, a former police investigator serving as a citizen auditor for integrity, an auditor from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and a member of the Women's Committee, along with the head of the legal team (lawyer) and the head of the audit office. The committee plans to start the investigation after the closing of the Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, this controversy began after Se-young An made a pointed statement toward the association following her gold medal win in women's singles badminton at the Paris Olympics on the 5th. She said, "My injury was more serious than expected, and I was quite disappointed with the national team, which thought about it too lightly," adding, "After this moment, I think it might be difficult to continue with the national team." Subsequently, controversy arose over allegations that the association neglected her knee injury and forced her to participate in international competitions.
However, the association rebutted these claims in a press release on the 7th, stating, "After An was injured in the knee during the final of the Hangzhou Asian Games last October, she received treatment and five weeks of rehabilitation, and then returned to international competitions on her own will," adding, "Participation in competitions was not forced but the athlete's choice." Regarding allegations of negligence in managing An's injury, the association claimed, "Among the 12 athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics, only Se-young An has had a dedicated trainer assigned since February this year to assist with injury management and recovery."
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