Deaf News: Star British cyclist to boycott Deaflympics in protest at Russian leadership of ICSD

The Two Big Ears blog, run by Stuart Harrison, Vice Chair of UK Deaf Sport, has revealed that the Deaflympics silver and bronze medal winning cyclist Tom Smith is set to boycott the next games in protest at the way the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf is being run.

The website recently revealed controversy after the Russian Deaf Sports Confederation (RDSC) was found guilty of falsifying audiograms, which meant they had to pay compensation to the Russian Wrestler Eugene Golovanov, which was deposited in his account just before Christmas.

Officials at the Russian Confederation are now in charge of the ICSD, and Smith told the website:

I want to say to my fellow Deaflympians; do you honestly believe that the ICSD leadership has your best interest at heart? They have so far ignored the Athletes Commission chaired by Dean Barton-Smith and Terence Parkin. They have already been found guilty of manipulating audiograms. They have lied, they have cheated, and they have alienated the IOC and IPC along the way. Deaf Sport currently has no future.

Find out more here: http://twobigears.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/cyclist-will-boycott-next-summer-deaflympics-if-icsd-do-not-change-their-ways/