Seoul: Two South Korean female figure skaters, previously banned for charges of sexual harassment, have been reinstated by the national skating federation, officials announced on Tuesday. This decision comes after earlier court rulings that temporarily allowed the athletes to return to the sport.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Skating Union (KSU) has officially lifted its bans on Lee Hae-in and You Young. This move was made in response to court decisions favoring the skaters, permitting them to resume their professional careers on the ice. Lee, a 2023 world silver medalist, was initially suspended for three years beginning in June 2024, an action later confirmed by the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC). The suspension arose from an incident at a national team training camp in Italy earlier in the year. Similarly, You Young, the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics champion, faced a one-year ban due to a related incident at the same camp.
Lee, aged 20, faced accusations of sexually harassing an underage male teammate during the camp in Italy. However, she contested the allegations, asserting that the physical contact deemed inappropriate by the KSU was consensual, as she and the teammate were in a romantic relationship. Moreover, Lee argued that the KSU's decision was made without awareness of her relationship status with the teammate, whose identity remains undisclosed.
On the other hand, You, also 20, was accused of taking inappropriate photos of Lee and showing them to the male teammate involved. Both skaters sought court injunctions to halt their suspensions, with Lee's request being approved in November of the previous year. This decision allowed her to compete in the International Skating Union's Four Continents championships in Seoul in February and the world championships in Boston in March.
You's court injunction was granted in March, enabling her to participate in the upcoming national Olympic trials. Reflecting the court's decisions, the KSU has resolved to fully reinstate both skaters. You represented South Korea at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, while Lee is yet to make her Olympic debut.