Russian out for cheating

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 18

Russian out for cheating

NZPA Montreal A Russian fencer, alleged to have cheated in the modern pentathlon, was expelled from the Olympic Games yesterday after officials discovered his weapon was wired to score a hit without touching his opponent. In an astonishing incident that destroyed Russia’s chances of repeating their Munich gold medal win in the event, 38-year-old Boris Onischenko was found to have a piece of wire concealed on his epee to trigger a hit without it being made. He was fighting Britain’s Jim Fox in the second round

of the fencing when he took a lunge at his tall, fairhaired opponent, the Briton stepped back without being touched — and stood amazed as a light signalled that the Russian had scored a hit.

Fox, aged 34, lodged an immediate protest and officials launched an investigation. It ended with the expulsion of Onischenko, a Munich silver medallist who has been a member of the Russian Olympic team for 10 years.

Onischenko, who was later whisked away in a Soviet team coach, denied that the offending weapon was his.

But Olympic officials decided his explanation was not good enough. Mr Carl Schwende, chief of discipline in charge of fencing, said: “The weapon had definitely been tampered with. Someone had wired it in such a way that it would score a winning hit without even making contact.” The British squad’s manager (Mr Mike Proudfoot) has said they suspected that all was not well after their first bout against the Russians.

“Onischenko scored a hit against Adrian Parker in the first fight and we could not

see how he managed it,” Mr Proudfoot said. “We called over an official to look at the equipment. He inspected the piste and electrical equipment but eventually awarded a hit.

“Then Jim Fox met the Russian and the same thing happened. This time it was more obvious than ever that it could not have been a hit, and we asked for the epee to be looked at.” The elimination of the 38-year-old Soviet veteran, for 10 years a member of his country’s team, destroyed the Russians’ chances of repeating their Munich gold medal team victory. The remaining Russians will compete only as individuals. Czechoslovakia has jumped into the lead of the modern pentathlon, just ahead of the United States. The Czechoslovaks had 5,745 points and the Americans 5675 at the end of the second day of the five-day competition. Sweden was in third place with 5586.

Pavel Lednev of Russia still led the field in individual competition with 2128 points. Jan Bartu, of Czechoslovakia, was second in individual competition with 2076 points and Czechoslovak Jan Pychiak-Peciak third with 1994.

American John Fitzgerald was fourth with 1956 points.