LONDON - Eight female Olympians from Asia banished from badminton competition Wednesday have been kicked out of the athletes' village and sent back to their nations in disgrace.
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The International Olympic Committee said Thursday that the four South Koreans who threw matches in the doubles competition, plus two players each from China and Indonesia, were on their way home.
The IOC has asked the Badminton World Federation to examine the actions of the coaches and anyone affiliated with the guilty teams, "to look into the entourage issue just to see if there any questions to be answered,'' spokesperson Mark Adams said.
He said the IOC sent the federation a "clear message that, if this happens again, action will be taken." He did not elaborate.
The reverberations continue following the embarrassing expulsion.
In the hours after the scandal erupted, Li Yongbo, coach of the Chinese team, apologized on national television back home, taking blame for what transpired. The Chinese Olympic delegation publicly criticized the ousted players for their transgressions.
"As the head coach, I owe the fans and the Chinese an apology," Li was quoted on Xinhua, China's news agency.
One of China's best players involved in the cheating, Yu Yang, apparently has quit the sport. Yang and badminton partner Wang Xiaoli are ranked No. 1 in the world.
Yang sent a message out Wednesday on a social media service to her more than one million followers that read: "This is my last game. Farewell Badminton World Federation. Farewell my dear badminton."
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