Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 28, 1994 TAG: 9401280134
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTLAND, ORE. LENGTH: Medium
Harding denied knowing about the attack on her figure skating rival beforehand. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it was "deeply concerned" about Harding's admission that she failed to come forward with information.
The USOC and the U.S. Figure Skating Association have said Harding could be removed from the team if she is linked to the attack. The skating association on Thursday created a five-member panel to investigate her.
A source told The Associated Press that Harding's statement may have done her more harm with U.S. Olympic officials than anything that has come out so far.
"It is heating up the temperature," the source said. "What she said today came creeping very, very close to a lot of things. It could solidify a lot of thought."
Harding made her emotional admission after a 30-minute workout. She did not answer questions after reading the statement.
"Despite my mistakes and my rough edges, I have . . . done nothing to violate the standards of excellence, of sportsmanship that are expected in an Olympic athlete," Harding said.
"I had no prior knowledge of the planned assault on Nancy Kerrigan," Harding said. "I am responsible, however, for failing to report things I learned about the assault when I returned home from [winning the national championship.]
"Many of you will be unable to forgive me for that. It will be difficult for me to forgive myself."
Harding said she respects Kerrigan and is sorry the Jan. 6 attack happened.
Her statement came as her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, spoke to investigators for the second day in what a source said was an attempt to cut a deal in exchange for implicating Harding in the attack.
Harvey Schiller, executive director of the USOC, said the organization "is deeply concerned with statements made today by Tonya Harding relative to her stated knowledge of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan at the national championships."
The U.S. Figure Skating Association said that while Harding would be on the roster submitted to the USOC for the Winter Games, the panel the association created Thursday will investigate whether grounds exist to warrant a disciplinary hearing on her status as an association member.
The USOC noted that the women's figure skating roster can be changed as late as Feb. 21.
Schiller said the USOC "is prepared under constitutional procedures to initiate any action deemed appropriate relative to the conduct of any athlete entered in the Games."
Norm Frink, Multnomah County deputy district attorney, said investigators weren't concerned about meeting any Olympic deadline to file charges.
"We're on our own timetable," he said. "We're going to do a thorough and complete job."
The Oregonian newspaper reported in its early edition today that Harding lied to authorities early in her Jan. 18 interview with them, then changed her story when her interrogators told her they knew she wasn't telling the truth.
The newspaper quoted unidentified sources as saying that after investigators said they knew she was lying, Harding conferred quietly with her lawyer, then came back and amended her answers. In those amended answers, she implicated Gillooly, The Oregonian said.
Harding read her statement at a downtown athletic club after a workout at a suburban shopping mall rink, where she fell during one of her trademark triple-axels and held her lower back in pain.
Wearing the red, white and blue warmup suit from the 1991 world championships, she stood on a stool in order to see over the battery of microphones and her hands, holding her statement, shook noticeably as she faced 20 television cameras and dozens of reporters.
"Nancy Kerrigan and I can show the world two different types of figure skating," Harding said. "I look forward to being on the team with her."
Keywords:
INFOLINE
by CNB