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Paralyzed gymnast files harassment report

By Wang Qingyun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-05-06 11:05

Paralyzed former gymnast Sang Lan is seen in this file photo released on Jan 17, 2001. [Photo/CFP]

A lawyer for Sang Lan, the paralyzed former Chinese gymnast, said Sang's legal team has filed a report with New York police about sexual harassment they suspect Sang was subject to while staying with her legal guardians during recovery, the Beijing News reported Friday.

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Hai Ming, Sang's lawyer, said he got the message from Huang Jian, Sang's agent, after the latter implied on his micro blog that the former gymnast was sexually harassed by Xue Weisen, son of Xie Xiaohong, one of the legal guardians.

Hai told the Beijing News that Sang confirmed the harassment message to the legal team: "When the 17-year-old Sang was living in the guardians' house in upstate New York, an adult male used to bathe her. ... There was other improper behavior."

Sang filed a $1.8 billion lawsuit against AOL Time Warner Inc media and entertainment company and the US Gymnastics Federation on April 28, accusing them of causing her condition to deteriorate. The defendants include Sang's legal guardians Liu Guosheng and Xie Xiaohong.

Sang's agent Huang Jian deleted his micro blog post later. He said the harassment report is independent of the lawsuit filed in federal court.

Hai Ming said he understands why Sang didn't mention the harassment before, and that the legal team will also file a report with the FBI, because what happened may have violated federal criminal law.