Expert Analysts to Resolve World Championships Disputes

Greater fairness and transparency will be a major factor at the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Championships next month following the appointment of nine top-level former taekwondo athletes and coaches to analyze instant video replays in case of disputes.

This will be the first time instant video replay has been used at the World Championships. The Competition Supervisory Board of nine who will adjudicate after viewing a replay have extensive hands-on experience at the highest level of competition. They include Olympic medalists and a world champion.

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is taking the step as part of a wide-ranging reform of the Competition Rules to ensure fairer, more transparent and more exciting competition. Competitors will also wear electronic body protectors which register points scored.

WTF President Chungwon Choue said: “It is expected that the reshuffle in the Competition Supervisory Board will contribute to fairer judging, as newly appointed members capitalize on their field experience accumulated as athletes and coaches.”

Among the nine experts are four taekwondo masters who have won the highest accolades:
- Pascal Gentil, France, bronze medalist at the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games.
- Hadi Saei Bonehkohal, Iran, gold medalist at the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games.
- Kook-Hyun Jeong, Korea, four-time world champion.
- Herbert Perez, United States, gold medalist at the Barcelona Olympic Games and
currently Chairman of WTF Training, Education and Development Committee.
The board also includes five WTF Council members.
-Mario Mandel Vaisman, Chile, International Referee, President of the Chile Taekwondo Federation
-Driss El-Hilali, Morocco, President of Moroccan Taekwondo Federation
-Seong Cheon Hong, Philippines
-Dae Won Moon, Mexico, Chairman of the WTF Technical Committee
-Jesus Castellanos Pueblas, President of the Spanish Taekwondo Association

Previously, the board has comprised seven members; this has been increased to nine to avoid a board member analyzing video of an athlete from the same country.

"This a good step forward for the WTF to bring a new generation of taekwondo experts and accomplished athletes into the judging and review process at major events," said USA Taekwondo CEO David Askinas. "Having Herb Perez as one of the competition supervisors ensures that the WTF will achieve new levels in fairness at its competitions."

The World Championships will take place from 14-18 October in Copenhagen, Denmark.