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The attorney for Chun, Russell Fericks, said the coach "still denies that he ever instructed such a weird and crazy thing to do."
Still, Cho blamed Chun for almost everything in front of reporters and television cameras and even his father, saying the coach promised him that he would take responsibility if anybody ever discovered the sabotage.
Cho also said that Chun told him that following the order would help pave Cho’s path to the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia, just 16 months away.
"He told me not to worry," Cho said.
The sabotage came to light only because a dozen other skaters filed their complaints about Chun, and included the tampering allegations. Cho said fellow skater Jeff Simon, one of those who filed the complaints, was present when Chun asked them both in English to tamper with the skates.
Cho said he did not target Jean specifically — his skates were simply closest — but he did phone Jean to apologize on Thursday night.
"I told him that I just wanted to apologize to him and tell him that I have nothing but respect for him and I told him that I regret everything," Cho said. "He sounded very understanding of my special circumstance, considering Jae Su was also Korean."
Cho could be suspended or banned from the sport, but he still hopes to keep training and compete at the Sochi Games — though he made clear he wouldn’t train under Chun, with whom he said he has not spoken in weeks.
The last time they did speak, Cho said, Chun "even denied to me taking any involvement" in the tampering.
"I wouldn’t skate for Jae Su Chun," Cho said.
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