HKCBBA chairman has zero credibility and a complete lack of integrity: Judge

The image and reputation of the city's bodybuilding association suffered a body blow after its chairman and a former Asian Games gold medal-winning bodybuilder were found guilty of bribery Friday.

Chan Yun-to, 43, who had won the gold medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, was found guilty of conspiring to bribe Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation secretary-general Paul Chau to relax a two-year suspension for doping so that he could compete at the Games.

Hong Kong China Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (HKCBBA) chairman Simon Chan Siu-man, 40, was also found guilty of plotting to bribe Chua, as well as on four other counts, including conspiracy to bribe, receiving advantage and fraud.

District Court Judge Susan D'Almada Remedios said Chan had "zero credibility and a complete lack of integrity."

She said Chan had turned a blind eye to drug-taking and even helped hush up the scandal so that they could compete and receive government subsidies.

The court had heard that Simon Chan told three bodybuilders, including Chan Yun-to, that he could negotiate a relaxation of their bans for positive drug tests in 2005 if they paid higher fines, which were in fact bribes.

Remedios said "Chan used the athletes as money-making machines and capitalized on their desire to compete." In her estimate, Chan had filled his pockets with at least HK$360,000 of the athlete's money, including sizable portions taken from Elite Athletes Grants funded by taxpayers.

As to Simon Chan's position at the HKCBBA, the judge said he must have been familiar with the "rules of the sport and the objectives to keep it clear of drugs and cheats."

Simon Chan's defense said he was framed by his former colleagues, some of whom were implicated in the corruption conspiracy but immunized from prosecution for their cooperation with investigators.

Chua is being investigated by Singaporean corruption authorities and his case is expected to reach court following Chan's sentencing Tuesday.

Defense counsel for Chan Yun-to said he was a victim, adding that he had received no financial benefit but had gone along because of his desire to compete. Defense counsel for Simon Chan said his loss of stature was a form of punishment in itself.

Inquiries into the Olympic Counsel of Asia as to whether Chan Yun-to will be stripped of his medal were not returned while the HKCBBA declined to comment on the future of their chairman.

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/30/2010 page1)