Sports ministry reviews excluded skaters’ eligibility

NOT THE FIRST TIME: This is the third recent incident that a sports association had jeopardized the opportunity of athletes to compete internationally, a legislator said

• By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

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The Ministry of Sports is working with the Chinese Taipei Skating Union (CTSU) to review the eligibility of five junior short-track speed skaters who were left out of international competitions, Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) said yesterday.

Parents and coaches of the five skaters said the athletes met the International Skating Union’s qualifying standards for this year and next year’s Junior World Cups and World Junior Championships, but were excluded, as the union insisted on using results from a single domestic spring competition as the sole selection criterion.

The dispute has left Taiwan without skaters eligible to compete in the events, potentially jeopardizing the athletes’ chances of qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games, they said.

Skaters compete in the National Short Track Speed Skating Championships at Taipei Arena on Aug. 29, 2011.

Photo: CNA

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Hsiu-pao (陳秀?) said the dispute was the third recent incident in which a sports association had jeopardized athletes’ opportunities to compete internationally.

Last month, the Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association declined replacement spots for Pan Tsai-chen (潘采宸) and Lee Chia-wei (李佳蔚) at the World Championships without confirming whether they were willing to compete.

The Chinese Taipei Archery Association also warned that funding delays could affect registration for this year’s Asian Cup and Asian Youth and Cadet Championships, potentially forcing athletes to pay their own expenses.

The cases have raised questions about sports associations’ selection decisions, funding arrangements and responsibility of protecting athletes’ opportunities to compete, Chen said.

Lee said the CTSU had announced its selection rules before February and that the ministry was discussing with the union the possibility of reconvening the Selection and Training Committee to review the appeals and prevent similar disputes.

Chen questioned whether there was enough time to resolve the matter, as the registration deadline for the competitions is on Oct. 25.

Lee said the ministry had asked the union to reconvene the committee soon and would seek to secure the athletes’ right to compete before the deadline.

Chen also said participation in this year’s World Cup events affected applications for the government’s promising-athlete development program.

Last year, skaters who did not compete at the World Junior Championships were denied eligibility for the program, and those unable to compete this year could lose their eligibility, she said.

Lee said eligibility should be assessed based on each sport’s overall results and that missing the World Junior Championships would not automatically disqualify an athlete.