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Hamm says he doesn't want to deal with taint claims
Hamm became the first American man to win the title after judges incorrectly scored Yang Tae's parallel bars routine. Yang ended up with the bronze.
American gymnast Paul Hamm doesn't think his Olympic gold medal was tainted. In fact, he's angry his all-around championship is being disputed at all. "I personally feel I shouldn't even be dealing with this," Hamm said on Sunday after failing to win medals in event finals for pommel horse and floor exercise.
While Hamm competed, US Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth and chief executive Jim Scherr met with members of the South Korean delegation to discuss the dispute that arose when the delegation appealed the results of the all-around to the International Gymnastics Federation.
Hamm became the first American man to win the title on Wednesday after judges incorrectly scored Yang Tae-young's parallel bars routine, failing to give him enough points for the level of difficulty. Yang ended up with the bronze.
"The Koreans requested a meeting and we listened to their point of view," USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said. "No decision was reached."
After reviewing the videotape, FIG suspended the two judges who determined start values _ Benjamin Bango of Spain and Oscar Buitrago Reyes of Colombia _ along with the judge who oversaw the panel, George Beckstead of the United States. But the federation said the results will not be changed.
Hamm believes the problem came up when FIG decided to review the tapes in the first place. Reviewing videotapes to handle protests in is not allowed in international gymnastics.
"The people I'm a little bit upset with is FIG because this matter should have never even come up," Hamm said. "Reviewing videotape isn't even allowed in the rules. The rules can't be changed after he competition is over."
