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A number of concerns and controversies surfaced before, during and after the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
The Games were hit by lack of sponsorship and a lack of interest from the public with only 18% of the tickets for the opening ceremony sold a week before the Games. Sales of tickets for rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae and badminton star Lee Yong-dae's events were fast, while sales for the football competition were just seven percent and athletics eight percent. [1] Organizers were able to generate more interest but there were a few hundred empty seats in the 61,000-capacity stadium at the start of the opening ceremony. [2] There was a shortage of free shuttles provided for journalists and athletes in the days leading up to the Games. [3] Organizers supplied more shuttle buses for the late-night shifts at the request of various international media organizations. [4]
When the identity of the final torch bearer was revealed to be the actress Lee Young-ae, there were mixed reactions in the local press as she had no direct ties to sports. However, she ultimately passed the torch to a pair of young South Korean athletes and the three lighted the cauldron in unison. [5]
In basketball, Olympic Council of Asia's eligibility rule on naturalized players, which contradicted the eligibility rule set by FIBA, became controversial as such rule disqualified Quincy Davis, a US-born player playing for the Chinese Taipei team, and Andray Blatche, a naturalized player of the Philippines, from participating in the tournament. [6] In accordance with the rule, OCA also refused South Korea's request to include Aaron Haynes in the squad, an American veteran player in Korea's basketball league who was in the process of naturalization. [7] Both OCA officials and IAGOC claimed that the OCA's eligibility rule requires a naturalized player to live minimum of three years in the country of his naturalization before becoming eligible to play for that country. [8] Nevertheless, Chinese Taipei Basketball Association stated that it received the positive confirmation from OCA regarding the participation of Quincy Davis, which was suddenly overturned due to the fact that Davis was two months short from residing three full years in Chinese Taipei. Many basketball fans argued that the host nation South Korea brought up the regulation rule at the last minute in order to not allow enough time for its major opponents to reconstruct their squads. Meanwhile, South Korea claimed it was just enforcing the OCA's regulation and the South Korean team themselves were also negatively affected by the rule. [6] [7] Despite the request of FIBA to reconsider the enforcement of the eligibility rule, both OCA and the organizing committee upheld their decision. [9]
Saudi Arabia was the only participating NOC to not send female athletes to the Games despite international pressure from organizations including the Human Rights Watch. The country was accused of taking a step backwards from the 2012 Summer Olympics, the first time in Olympics history that Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on female participation. [10] Mohammed al-Mishal, the secretary-general of Saudi Arabia's Olympic Committee, stated that women weren't included because none have reached the level for international competition. [11] A member of the Saudi Olympic committee later stated that the country plans to send women to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics. [12]
Qatar women's basketball team was hit by FIBA ban on Muslim headscarf, known as hijab. They were scheduled to play Mongolia but were disallowed. The team eventually withdrew from the tournament, refusing to remove the hijab. [13] FIBA claimed the ban was made due to safety concerns. [14] Qatar officials said the decision was insulting, disrespectful of the religion, and nonsensical as combat sports allow the hijab. [15] One player stated that they had been assured well before the Games that they would be able to wear hijab. [16]
In cycling, Hong Kong cyclists had raised concerns after they found the competition venue would be an outdoor velodrome of 333 metres in length, instead of a 250 metres indoor velodrome, which is commonly in use during the Olympic Games and the World Cup. Hong Kong Cycling Association claimed that outdoor velodromes are rare in modern cycling and they have to travel far to practice in a similar environment. [17] The organising committee denied any advantage to the host nation. They also claimed that the track was re-coated and received approval from Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). [18]
The 2014 Asian Games opening ceremony was criticised by local media for featuring more celebrities and K-pop stars than sports figures, failing to display the legacy of the event or Incheon city's culture and abasing the sports stars' presence at the event. Despite executive director Jang Jin's promise that the main characters ― Jang Dong-gun and Kim Soo-hyun would have the roles of storytellers, their presence was overshadowed by the performances of boy band JYJ and singer Psy. [19]
The Chinese team was initially disqualified after shooter Zhang Binbin was found to have violated regulations concerning maximum weight limits of her rifle. The disqualification was eventually reversed after a strong appeal by Chinese officials arguing that Zhang "didn't intend to break the rule". This allowed China to retain their team gold and a new world record. [20] [21] This led to a series of allegations that members of jury favoured Zhang. [22]
In badminton, Chinese coach Li Yongbo accused the hosts of manipulating the wind in the stadium, after China was defeated by South Korea in the final of the men's team event. Yongbo said, "We did not lose because of technique or tactics, but due to some man-made reasons. The South Koreans deliberately controlled the wind blow in the stadium and took advantage of it." Japanese coach Keita Masuda also alleged a similar case saying, "The wind in this stadium is very strange, always supporting the hosts. Every time we change sides, the wind seems to change sides as well." [23] Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon, a former world champion, also went on to blame the "strangely strong winds" for her defeat in the quarterfinals of the women's singles event against a South Korean opponent. [24]
Indian lightweight boxer Laishram Sarita Devi lost a highly controversial 60 kg semi-final bout against eventual silver medalist Park Jina of South Korea. Despite what many believed was a better performance by Sarita Devi, all three ringside judges ruled in favor of her opponent, leading to a 0–3 decision. The ringside judges were Braham Mohamad of Tunisia, Albino Foti of Italy, and Mariusz Josef Gorny of Poland. [25] The decision, which drew huge criticism, left Sarita Devi in a state of shock and she was seen weeping inconsolably. [26] Indian Olympic Association (IOA) office-bearers chose not to involve themselves with the situation, leaving Sarita Devi and her husband Thoiba Singh to lodge the protests by themselves. [27] They were unable to pay the USD$500 fee to lodge an official protest against AIBA until Sarita's coach Lenin Meitei and an Indian journalist paid the amount on their behalf. [28] Sarita Devi stunned officials and spectators by refusing to accept the bronze medal during the medal ceremony. [29] Devi initially took her bronze medal and placed it around Park Jina's neck. After reluctantly receiving her medal back from Park Jina, Devi left the medal on the podium after the conclusion of the ceremony. [30] In interviews following the incident, Sarita Devi stated, "It was a protest for all the sportsmen and women of the world against injustice in sport". She also criticized Indian officials by stating, "It has been 24 hours and not one official has come to speak with me and ask me if I am fine. They just come here to take photos with medalists and nothing else." [31] [32] AIBA opened disciplinary proceedings against Sarita for returning her medal and Adille Sumariwalla, the head of the Indian Mission, criticized Sarita Devi for her behavior. [33] [34] The following day, Sarita Devi offered an unconditional apology to AIBA for her emotional outbreak during the medal ceremony. [35] She also expressed regret for her actions at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) hearing and the governing body reinstated Sarita Devi's bronze medal. [36]
Shortly after Sarita Devi's controversial loss, Mongolian boxer Nyambayaryn Tögstsogt lost a controversial bout against South Korean Ham Sang-myeong in the 56 kg category. Nyambayar stayed in the ring for 5 minutes, protesting the results. The referees were booed by the crowd, and several Mongolian coaches arranged for a protest to be held. [37]
In women's 57 kg, Thai boxer Sopida Satumrum lost a highly contentious decision to China's Si Haijuan. Two of the three judges scored a 38–38 draw while the third judge ruled 39–37 in favor of the Thai. [38] Under AIBA guidelines, the bout was declared a draw and the decision was deferred to a panel of five judges, which requires a majority decision. The five judges declared Si the winner of the bout. [39] Satumrum burst into tears after the result was announced and stated, "this is very cruel to me because I did much better than my opponent. I am 100% sure that I won." [38] [40] Thai officials filed an official protest but organizers dismissed it saying the decision is beyond contention. [39]
Worawi Makudi, the president of Football Association of Thailand, criticized the referees for making mistakes during the semi-final match between South Korea and Thailand. Coach Kiatisuk Senamuang voiced displeasure about the penalty kick awarded to South Korea following a foul outside the penalty area, which directly led to its second goal at the 45+1' minute mark. [41] Controversy continued as a South Korean defender used his arm to block the movement of the ball twice inside South Korea's penalty area. No call was not made on the handballs. South Korea won the match 2–0. Makudi stated that he would take the matter to the Asian Football Confederation but no official protest was lodged as of 4 October, the conclusion of the Games. [24] [42]
Iranian wrestler Saeid Abdevali had defeated South Korean wrestler Jung Ji-hyun in the semifinal of men's 71 kg Greco-Roman event. The winner was declared to be Abdevali, but the Korean officials protested the result following which Jung Ji-hyun was declared the winner. [43] Jung Ji-hyun went on to win the gold medal, while Abdevali was forced to settle for bronze. [42]
The organiser claimed that the misbehaviour of some of the athletes such as smoking and causing damage to property during the competition resulted in the Malaysian delegation being fined RM143,000 (US$40,000). [44] Sepak takraw, along with bowling, sailing and rugby sevens were among the sports in which athletes incurred fines. However, this was denied by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC), saying that the damage was not caused by their athletes because they were not staying in the damaged room reported by the organiser. [45]
Over 1,920 samples from 1,600 athletes were tested during the Games. Six athletes tested positive for banned substances and were sent home from the Games. [46]
On 14 September, five days before the opening ceremony, Tajikistan footballer Khurshed Beknazarov tested positive for methylhexanamine. He was subsequently suspended from all football activity for 30 days. [47] On 25 September, Cambodian soft tennis player Yi Sophany was found positive for sibutramine. [48] [49] Sophany suspected that Sting, her favorite energy drink may have been the cause of her positive doping test results. The doping committee informed her that sibutramine can be found on energy drinks. [50] On 30 September, Malaysian wushu gold medalist Tai Cheau Xuen also tested positive for sibutramine. She was stripped of her gold medal. [51] Malaysian officials appealed against the disqualification but the appeal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). [52] [53] The same day, Iraqi weightlifter Mohammed al Aifuri tested for positive for etiocholanolone and androsterone. It was his second failed drug test in six years. [54] He faces a ban by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which had banned him once before in 2008 for taking metandienone. [55] On 1 October, Syrian karate fighter Nour-Aldin al-Kurdi tested positive for clenbuterol. [56] On 3 October, Chinese hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu became the second gold medalist to be stripped of their gold medal after testing positive for zeranol. [57]
However, on 6 May 2015, Zhang's gold medal was returned after further testing performed by independent specialists that the presence zeranol was the consequence of the consumption of contaminated food. [58]
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes of Asia. The Games were regulated by Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India in 1951, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games, they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, after the breakup of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and are the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
The 2002 Asian Games, officially known as the XIV Asian Games and also known as Busan 2002 (부산2002), were an international multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Due to schedule impediments the football tournament started two days before the opening ceremony.
The 2006 Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad or 15th Asian Games (Arabic: دورة الألعاب الآسيوية الخامسة عشرة, and commonly known as Doha 2006, was an Asian multi-sport event held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to 15, 2006, with 424 events in 39 sports featured in the games. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games. The city will host the games again in 2030.
The 2010 Asian Games (2010年亚洲运动会), officially known as the XVI Asian Games (第十六届亚洲运动会) and also known as Guangzhou 2010 (广州2010), were a regional multi-sport event held from November 12 to 27, 2010 in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It was the second time China hosted the Asian Games, with the first one being Asian Games 1990 in Beijing.
The 2014 Asian Games, officially known as the 17th Asian Games and also known as Incheon 2014 (인천2014), was a pan-Asian multi-sport event held from 19 September to 4 October 2014 in Incheon, South Korea.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was elected as President of the OCA on 8 July 2023. However, on 30 July 2023, the International Olympic Committee asked Randhir Singh, who was the acting president at the time, to continue as the Acting President of the OCA while the IOC investigated the OCA presidential election of 2023. On 13 October 2023, the IOC ethics committee asked the OCA to annul its 2023 elections due to Talal’s candidacy not fulfilling the eligibility conditions defined by the OCA Constitution and election interference by his brother Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.
Laishram Sarita Devi is an Indian boxer from Manipur. She is a national champion and a former world champion in the lightweight class. In 2009, she was awarded Arjuna award by the government of India for her achievements.
The 2002 Asian Games was a multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Busan was the second South Korean city to host the Games, after Seoul in 1986. A total of 6,572 athletes—4,605 men and 1,967 women—from 44 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 38 sports divided into 419 events. The number of competing athletes was higher than the 1998 Asian Games, in which 6,544 athletes from 41 NOCs participated. It was the first time in the history of the Asian Games that all 44 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) participated in the Games. Afghanistan returned after the fall of the Taliban government in the midst of ongoing war; East Timor, newest member of the OCA made its debut; and North Korea competed for the first time in an international sporting event hosted by South Korea. Both nations marched together at the opening ceremony with a Korean Unification Flag depicting the Korean Peninsula as United Korea.
The 2022 Asian Games (2022年亚洲运动会), officially the 19th Asian Games (第十九届亚洲运动会) and also known as Hangzhou 2022 (杭州2022), were a continental multi-sport event which was held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China. The games marked the 110th anniversary since the creation of the first continental event, starting with the 1913 Far Eastern Championship Games.
The women's 5000 metres competition at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea was held on 12 October at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
The women's 1500 metres competition at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea was held on 10 October at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
What follows is a list of all the athletes that have tested positive for a banned substance either during or before an Asian Games in which they competed. Any medals listed were revoked.
Iraq participated in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014.
The 2014 Asian Games, officially known as the XVII Asiad, is the largest sporting event in Asia governed by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). It was held at Incheon, South Korea between September 19 – October 4, 2014, with 439 events in 36 sports and disciplines set to feature in the Games.
The women's Nanquan / Nandao all-round competition at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea was held on 20 September at the Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium.
The women's lightweight event at the 2014 Asian Games took place from 27 September to 1 October 2014 at Seonhak Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea.
South Korea participated in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September 2018. It was the 18th appearance of the country at the Asian Games, except the first edition in Delhi. As one of the best competitors at the Games, South Korea's best achievement was in the 2002 Busan, with the acquisition of 96 gold, 80 silver and 84 bronze medals. At the latest edition in 2014 Incheon, the country had collected 79 gold, 71 silver, and 84 bronze medals.
Vietnam competed at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18 August to 2 September 2018. The country surpassed its target of winning 3 gold medals at the Games by concluding the competition with 5 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 19 bronze medals, ranking 16th out of 46 participating members of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Sonia Lather is an Indian amateur boxer. She was a silver medallist at the 2016 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships, and a twice silver medallist at the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.
The Philippines competed at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October 2023. Originally scheduled to take place in 2022, the Games were postponed and rescheduled to 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.