US speedskaters say their 'coach is no abuser'

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AFP) - Nine American speedskaters, including Olympic bronze medal winner Lana Gehring, have come to the defence of besieged national team head coach Chun Jae Su.

Gehring, Jessica Smith and seven other team-mates described abuse allegations against Chun as a "false attack on his character".

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Gehring and Smith said they do not believe there are any grounds for the allegations directed at short track coach Chun or his assistant coach Yeo Jun Hyung.

They said they have not seen any of the alleged acts of abuse that some of the other skaters have described in a complaint to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).