U.S. speedskater Simon Cho admits to tampering with rival’s skate

U.S. Olympic speedskater Simon Cho admitted to tampering with a Canadian rival’s skates under pressure from his coach, Jae Su Chun, and said it was the “biggest mistake of my life.�

Cho’s comments were in a statement issued by his attorney Friday morning.

Chun has been accused by a dozen skaters of abusing them in his role as national-team coach within U.S. Speedskating. The skaters also alleged that he ordered Cho to tamper with Canadian Olivier Jean’s skates.

Cho fessed up on Friday.

“A year and a half ago, at the World Team Championships in Warsaw, Poland, after the U.S. team was eliminated from competition, I tampered with a skate that belonged to a Canadian team skater after being pressured to do so by my coach Jae Su Chun,� Cho said in the statement. “Although the skate belonged to Olivier Jean, I had no intention to single him out. It was the biggest mistake of my life and one that I regret with all my heart. I apologize to Olivier and the Canadian team -- I have great respect for Olivier and the Canadian team and have never held any bad feelings toward them. I also apologize to all those involved in speed skating for my poor judgment and bad sportsmanship.�

Canada, which had finished first or second in the six previous World Team Championships, finished third in 2011.

U.S. Speedskating has scheduled a news conference later Friday.

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