Olympic Notes: KSOC To Cut Sports Ministry's Influence

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung "has initiated a drive to cut the influence of a 'controlling geek'" -- the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism -- on his organization ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Lee met members of KSOC Committee for the Future at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul on Nov. 28 to "discuss ways to strengthen its independence as a National Olympic Committee from external influence." The sports ministry "has wielded its influence on the KSOC, albeit indirectly, through its purse strings." This sometimes "led to a clash with IOC regulations" (KOREA TIMES, 12/9).

Russia said that it will accept an IOC plan "to retest all drug test samples given by Russian athletes at the 2012 and 2014 Olympics." The IOC's declaration on Friday "followed the publication of a report" by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren (AP, 12/11).