BBC exposes scam in Olympics cycling event

The report, which was denied by a top Japanese official, claims that a total of three million dollars was 8220;paid by organisers of a Japanese cycling event to the UCI 8211; the world cycling body8221;.

A former top official with the UCI, Denmark8217;s Henrik Elmgreen, said it was widely known that the keirin, which in 1992 was in danger of being dropped from the UCI8217;s world championship programme, was pushed through thanks to money.

8220;We must admit that when they came into the Olympics it was because the Japanese were very influential in the UCI and they offered a lot of money in order to promote this discipline,8221; he is reported as saying on the BBC.

8220;You can to a certain extent say they bought their way in but on the other hand it is a spectacular discipline. Everybody knew the Japanese were supporting the UCI world cup series and were supporting everything and I think everybody realised that they weren8217;t doing it for nothing. They wanted something in return and everybody knew what they got in return.8221;

When asked to substantiate the claims by the BBC, a top Japanese cycling official identified only as Mr Koramasu, categorically denied any deal having ever taken place.

8220;No transfer of money took place,8221; he said. 8220;What we did is that we supported establishing the cycling training centres in Japan and also we paid the set amount that all the National Federations pay for membership 8211; sort of a membership fee 8211; I have to say I do not know about it at all.

8220;I have been in this position up until 1998 however I8217;ve never heard of any direct payment of money or cash.8221; Former UCI chief Hein Verbruggen, who is now a top International Olympic Committee IOC official, also denied any wrongdoing.

8220;It8217;s been done in total transparency8221;, he said. 8220;This was done for the development of track cycling around the world.8221;

The Keirin is one of track cycling8217;s sprint events in which racers are motorpaced by a motor-bike before engaging in a frantic dash for the finish line.

The event is big money business in Japan, where it forms an integral part of a multi-million pound betting industry. The UCI reacted to the news by saying it has looked into the matter and found no proof of wrongdoing.

8220;The UCI looked into this matter when questions were first raised by the BBC in early June,8221; said a UCI statement. 8220;A thorough examination of our records and interviews with those involved has turned up no evidence that this was anything other than a straightforward, completely proper arrangement to promote track cycling.

8220;It is perfectly logical that UCI would cooperate with Japanese national cycling groups to encourage international interest in track cycling. The agreement did not include any provision regarding Keirin8217;s acceptance as an Olympic sport or even a commitment by UCI to seek its inclusion in the Olympic programme.

8220;To conclude otherwise would be incorrect. In fact, the agreement was signed six months after keirin was entered in the programme, along with three other track cycling events 8211; the men8217;s Olympic sprint and Madison, and the women8217;s 500-meter time trial.

8220;The agreement produced clear benefits for all track cycling disciplines 8230; it allowed UCI to hire a full-time track cycling coordinator, support track cycling events around the world and contributed to the establishment of a world cycling centre, including a velodrome in Switzerland.

8220;In addition, all expenses related to the agreement were reviewed by an independent auditor and deemed proper.8221;