PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) - Canadian skicross competitor Dave Duncan has apologized for “poor judgment” for his role in taking a car after a night out at a bar and using it for a ride home to the Olympic athletes village. The group was stopped by police shortly after midnight Saturday near the village.
Duncan, 35, from London, Ont., was released from jail around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, along with his wife Maja, 32, and coach William Raine, 48.
Raine, who was allegedly driving the SUV, was fined 5 million South Korean won ($4,600) for driving under the influence and theft. Duncan and his wife were each fined 1 million won ($930), according to a police officer at the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press. Duncan’s group is not allowed to leave South Korea until the fines are paid.
Raine allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .162, well above the local legal driving limit of .05.
A joint statement from the Duncans offering an apology did not offer specifics, saying only their behavior “was not up to the standards expected of us as members of the Canadian Olympic Team or as Canadians.”
In his own statement, Raine said: “Words are not enough to express how sorry I am. I have let my teammates, friends and my family down.”
One of the people in the vehicle was passed out when arrested, Detective Lee Hee-jun told The Canadian Press.
Drunk driving in South Korea can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $9,300.
Duncan completed his competition Wednesday and placed eighth. He later said on Instagram, “So this is what an Olympics is supposed to feel like. A solid 8th place here … My best skiing of the season and an effort I’m proud of.”
Skicross mixes natural terrain with man-made features including big-air jumps and high-banked turns. Multiple skiers race down the course at once.
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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed from Gangneung, South Korea.
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