IOC Suspends Kim Un-yong

On Saturday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended its vice president, Kim Un-yong, who is accused of embezzling public funds from domestic athletic groups. In a statement announced in Lausanne, Switzerland, the IOC said that on the advice of its Ethics Commission, the body had decided to suspend Kim until South Korean prosecutors and the Ethics Commission finished their investigations.
The Ethics Committee, which IOC president Jacques Rogge ordered to convene two weeks ago, unanimously decided to suspend Kim in accordance with regulations in the IOC Charter. According to the Charter, those under investigation for ethics violations can be temporarily deprived of some or all of their rights, privileges and duties while an investigation is under way. Regarding this matter, Kim said through his lawyer that the decision to suspend him before the investigations are complete was rash and unfair, and that the principle of presumed innocence must be kept.

The suspension measure is temporary, but Kim may be permanently expelled from the IOC if found guilty. To expel an IOC member, two-thirds of the IOC General Assembly must agree to the expulsion.

News from Chosun Ilbo, South Korea