Posted on: Friday, August 13, 2004

Federal judge to decide on Lee's Olympic coaching fate

By Stanley Lee
Advertiser Staff Writer

A federal judge today will decide whether Dae Sung Lee will be reinstated the as taekwondo coach of United States Olympic team.

U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway is scheduled to make her ruling this afternoon.

Lee, 46, was removed from his position in April after the U.S. Taekwondo Union's Governance and Management Committee reevaluated the coach selection criteria and suggested he be replaced.

On July 28, Lee filed a $1 million federal lawsuit against the sport's governing body — the U.S. Taekwondo Union — and the U.S. Olympic Committee, claiming he was removed because of his Korean heritage.

The suit seeks reinstatement in time for the taekwondo events starting Aug. 26 in Athens, Greece, as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

"It's an ultimate goal for all the coaches," said Lee of the Olympics. "Maybe it's not meant to be, or maybe I have to work the next four years."

Lee, the owner of the U.S. Taekwondo Center in 'Aina Haina, said people have told him that he's "a little pebble and they (USOC) are a mountain."

"Whatever they want to do, they have the power," he said.

Steven Lopez and Nia Abdallah, the only two U.S. taekwondo athletes at the Olympics, along with USTU CEO Bob Gambradella testified via telephone from Greece.

Reach Stanley Lee at slee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8533.