11-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong cycling body could be told to reopen Paris Olympics selection probe
Hong Kong's cycling association could be ordered to reopen an inquiry regarding last year's Paris Olympics after a renewed accusation about its selection of riders, a source has told the Post.
Advertisement
A complaint last October to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) – subsequently investigated, with the findings leaked to media – claimed that an official at the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China (CAHK) tried to manipulate selection when Hong Kong was allocated an extra Games place in the women's road time trial.
International rules required those taking part in the time trial to also compete in at least one other event. It was claimed that an official suggested star rider Ceci Lee Sze-wing relinquish her spot in the road race, allowing Chloe Leung Wing-yee to be selected for both road race and time trial.
Leung could then drop out of the road race citing illness to allow Lee, the better road racer, to step in as backup and reclaim her intended spot while Leung rode in the time trial, giving Hong Kong the extra rider over the two races, according to the leaked report.
Lee, who besides the road race was riding in the omnium in the velodrome, wished to compete only in those, not the time trial, according to a report by CAHK honorary secretary general Simon Leung Chi-wa to the executive committee on December 18.
Ceci Lee tackles the road race in Paris. Photo: SF&OC
The alleged proposal was never carried out, after failing to gain enough support when the executive committee voted on it. Still, an anonymous complaint was made to the SF&OC, which told the CAHK to set up an 'independent investigation committee'.
