Top cyclist Sarah Lee unlikely to face disciplinary action after social media comment supporting protest draws complaints
- Sports Institute receives complaints from netizens who are demanding she stop training and competing until she explains herself
- It is not the first time the double world champion has been mired in controversy after similar posting in June
The Hong Kong Sports Institute will not take disciplinary action against top cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze after the world-class rider made comments on National Day on social media, which many people have interpreted as “supporting the anti-government movement”.
The Fo Tan training body received complaints on Wednesday after the reigning world track cycling champion posted on Facebook that “we have to be careful to avoid the rain today [Tuesday]. If you don’t bring an umbrella, you better go home early”.
There was no rain yesterday and many of the complainants accused Lee of supporting the protesters who took to the streets trying to upstage Beijing’s National Day celebrations on October 1. Protesters held unauthorised demonstrations with violence quickly breaking out in districts across the city, engaging in some of the bloodiest and most sustained clashes with police since the protest began in early June.
The post, however, has since been removed after it is believed that Lee was asked to suspend her account late on Tuesday after many pro-government organisations took issue with it.