U.S. Speedskater Simon Cho Admits to Tampering with Rival's Skates

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Even in the world of speed skating, athletes look for an edge over their competition—even if that requires cheating. Case and point, American Speed Skater Simon Cho.

In a recent interview with NPR, Cho admitted to being forced to tamper with the skates of top Canadian skater Olivier Jean. According to the 20-year-old American, he was pressured by coach Jae Su Chun to sabotage the gear of the Canadian team, who happened to be sharing a locker room with the Americans at the 2011 Short Track Team Championships in Poland.

Using his coach’s “bending machine,” Cho bent Jean’s blade—an obvious advantage in a sport that is based around speed. Both Chun and Cho face severe punishment ahead, perhaps even a lifetime ban from the sport.

What do you think, should the International Skating Union go easy on Cho for coming clean?

[NPR]

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