Thursday, August 19, 2004

USA: No reinstatement for coach LEE 15 Aug. 2004

ATHENS, 15, August - A federal judge has refused to reinstate Dae Sung LEE, the dismissed coach of the USA Olympic Taekwondo team.

The Korean coach was dismissed on the first day of April and filed a lawsuit two weeks ago claiming he was removed because of his Korean heritage. He was asking one 1 million dollars and his reinstatement.

The US district judge Susan Oki MOLLWAY, ruled that LEE failed to show the US Taekwondo Union and the US Olympic Committee discriminated against him.

Dae Sung LEE was hired as head coach in March 2003.

After his dismissal and based on new criteria, Jean LOPEZ (USA), the older brother of reigning gold medalist Steven LOPEZ (USA), took over as the Taekwodo coach on 19 July.

The Taekwondo Olympic tournament begins on the 26th of August at Faliro Sports Pavillion.

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