IOC asks for further inquiry into badminton match-throwing scandal

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After a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday morning, eight female badminton players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were disqualified by the Badminton World Federation³ (BWF) for trying to lose their group matches in a bid to secure favorable draw in the knock-out stage.

"We have asked to look into it to see if there are any issues to answer similarly for the coaches," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said on Thursday.

"It's important to make sure it's not just the athletes that are punished. The NOCs are making sure those athletes are now leaving the Village and making their way home," he added.

The eight disgraced players are world doubles champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China and South Korean pairs Jung Kyun-eun/Kim Ha-na and Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung and Indonesia's Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii.

They were booed by the spectators Tuesday night at the Wembley Arena⁴ when they deliberately⁵ hit shots out of court and served into the net.

South Korea and Indonesia appealed the disqualification, but the BWF rejected the South Korean appeal and the Indonesia challenge was withdrawn⁶. China did not appeal.

Hours after the scandal erupted, Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese badminton team, apologized in public.

"As the head coach, I owe the fans and the Chinese an apology," Li said. "Chinese players failed to demonstrate their fighting spirit. It's me to blame."

But some blamed the group format⁷ for the controversy⁸.

"The Badminton World Federation should never have allowed the round-robin format to replace the knockout tournament that has been used at previous Olympics. There was always going to be a risk of match-throwing with the new format," said Gail Emms, a former badminton player who won a silver medal for Britain in 2004 Olytmpics.

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