Two days after the surprise disqualification of Taiwanese Taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun from the Asian Games, President Ma Ying-jeou openly condemned the ruling and the accusation of cheating against Yang on Friday, calling the charge "groundless and unacceptable." Ma also promised to seek justice for the player.

On Thursday, Sports Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chen Hsien-tsung issued a public apology for some inappropriate comments after a Korean referee disqualified Chinese Taipei's Yang Shu-chun during a match and for all subsequent matches at the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Chen also said that he wanted to retain Yang for the 2012 London Olympics, and that he would resign if Yang refused.

Chen later said that he was joking, and DPP lawmaker Kuan Bi-ling is calling for his and SAC Minister Tai Hsia-ling's resignations.

The Asian Taekwondo Union is investigating Yang's disqualification, and both the Executive Yuan and SAC are preparing to appeal an unfavorable ruling to international authorities.

The ATU agreed to launch an investigation on Thursday morning, but issued a press release on its website later in the day describing the controversy as a "shocking act of deception" on the part of Chinese Taipei.

Premier Wu Den-yih has sent Minister without Portfolio Ovid Tseng to Guangzhou to monitor the situation and safeguard Taiwan's dignity.