Sport ‘bought into’ Olympics claim

An investigation carried out by the BBC has raised concern that a Japanese cycling event may have been included in the Olympics because of a cash donation. The 'keirin' - a rapid and exciting track cycling event - has long been popular in Japan, but with a comparatively low profile internationally. However, in 1996 it was added to the roster ofOlympic sports after being supported for inclusion by the UCI, cycling's world governing body.

NowBBC investigators say they have documents showing that organisers of the keirin in Japan paid $3m to the UCI during the 1990s. Hein Verbruggen, thenpresident of the UCI, denies any wrongdoing. However, Denmark's Henrik Elmgreen, whowas also a member at the time, told the BBC: "The Japanese were very influential in the UCI and they offered a lot of money in order to promote this discipline. You can to a certain extent say they bought their way in but on the other hand it is a spectacular discipline."

This was categorically denied by Mr Karamasu of Japan's Keirin Association, who said: "No transfer of money took place." But the BBC team claim the documents they now have show that this is not true, and $3m did change hands.