South Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in, a silver medalist at the World Championships, has confessed that it was she who became the subject of proceedings over the possible molestation of a junior skater.
According to the athlete, the accusations of sexual harassment of a young man are false, as she was in a romantic relationship with the junior. Lee Hae-in said that she concealed the relationship with the guy, as their parents were against it: the figure skater met her partner at school, and then reunited at a training camp.
The 19-year-old figure skater said on her social network page:
I thought I had done something that couples normally do to express affection for each other. When I was being questioned by the KSU, I couldn't reveal that he and I were dating. But I didn't think it would lead to such a misunderstanding that I had sexually harassed a minor.
Earlier it was reported that an unnamed group of figure skaters consumed alcohol during the national team's training camp in Italy in May. One of the athletes invited a junior skater to the dormitory of the women's team, where she forcefully induced sexual contact.
The South Korean Skating Federation (KSU) disqualified Lee Hae-in for three years following an initial hearing.