An arbitration hearing regarding allegations against U.S. short track coach Jae Su Chun has been rescheduled from next week to Nov. 1 according to the Salt Lake Tribune, meaning the accusing skaters won’t be able to air their grievances before the World Cup season starts Oct. 19 in Calgary.
Ten skaters were picked for the U.S. team during trials in Kearns, Utah over the weekend, but five of those are part of a group that filed a code of conduct complaint against Chun with U.S. Speedskating and the USOC for “unchecked abuse.” They were waiting to see if Chun would be dismissed before deciding whether or not to accept their spots the team, but need to do so before Oct. 7.
Chun was put on administrative leave after 19 of his current and former skaters filed a complaint stating Chun was physically and verbally abusive. The arbitration, which now only lists 12 skaters, added that Chun told Vancouver bronze-medalist Simon Cho to tamper with Canadian rival Oliver Jean’s skates before a 5000m relay race in Poland last year, which Chun denies
The team is currently being coached by Jun Hyung Yeo, one of Chun’s assistant who many team members also want dismissed. U.S. Speedskating says they’re working on a plan for the first two World Cup events, both of which will take place in Canada before the November hearing.
