South Korean Olympian seeking to skate for China faces hurdles

March 9 (UPI) -- South Korean Olympic gold medalist Lim Hyo-jun is ready to represent China in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but resistance from the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee could mean Lim could be barred from the Games.

Lim, a short-track speed skater who took home the gold at the 2018 Winter Games at Pyeongchang, may not be able to compete in Beijing despite an initial announcement Saturday that he had applied for Chinese citizenship.

The decision comes after an incident in 2019 in which Lim pulled down the pants of his male teammate before women athletes during practice. Lim was charged with sexual harassment and banned from competition, according to Yonhap. Lim had said he exposed his teammate as a prank.

Lim's trial is ongoing. In May last year, he was found guilty, but the Seoul Central District Court overturned the sexual harassment conviction last November. A final decision is pending in South Korea's Supreme Court.

The South Korean Olympian's decision to switch citizenship was prompted by concerns he could be kept out of competition in 2022 if the Supreme Court overturns the November decision, South Korean news network MBN reported Tuesday.

Lim's decision may not be sitting well with South Korea's Olympic authorities.

A Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official who spoke to local network SBS on the condition of anonymity suggested a chance exists that South Korea will decline to reach a deal with the Chinese Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union.

"Lim Hyo-jun is a South Korean national and was competing internationally less than three years ago," the source said, citing an article in the Olympic Charter that can temporarily ban an athlete from the Olympic Games after change of citizenship.

"If Korea opposes, it will be difficult [for Lim] to compete in the Beijing Olympics as a Chinese national athlete."

The Olympic clause does not apply if the Korean committee, the Chinese committee and the International Skating Union reach an agreement, according to Yonhap.