USATKD Closes Investigation on Nationals Incident: A Call for Unity

MASTKD – On July 26, 2025, during the semifinals of the Youth 10–11 Black Belt Poomsae division at the U.S. National Taekwondo Championships, a technical scoring error by a referee led to an internal review that has now been officially closed by USA Taekwondo (USATKD).

The organization released a detailed After Action Report outlining the findings, corrective actions, and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A Human Error, Not a System Failure

The controversy began when Athlete A, who had placed first in the preliminary round, received an unusually low score in the semifinals.

Coach Giduk Gun requested clarification, and Poomsae Referee Chair Angela DeOliveira confirmed that one judge had accidentally double-clicked the deduction button, resulting in excessive penalties.

The Poomsae Pro system confirmed the anomaly, showing deduction numbers far above the average.

Officiating Decision and Resolution

Since re-running the round would have jeopardized other competitors’ standings, officials opted for an inclusive remedy: advancing Athlete A to the finals as a ninth qualifier.

In the final, the athlete achieved the highest score and won the division.

The referee involved was removed from the event and will undergo additional training before future appointments.

Official Report vs. Online Rumors

USATKD stressed that no unethical conduct was found on the part of any coach or referee.

The decision, according to the official statement, was made in line with competition rules and fairness principles.

The release also aimed to put an end to unfounded accusations and one-sided narratives that had circulated online, which—according to community members—unfairly targeted athletes, families, and teams.

“It was important to wait for the official investigation results rather than respond to every comment. The priority was always to clarify the facts and preserve the integrity of the sport,” sources close to the matter noted.

A Call for Cooperation

Beyond the technical aspects, the case underscored the need for respect and collaboration among U.S. coaches and teams.

“Coaches and teams must stop putting each other down and learn to work together for the benefit of the athletes and Taekwondo.”

USATKD’s Next Steps

• Implementation of a Spectator Code of Conduct at all sanctioned events.

• Scores to be displayed before the start of the next Poomsae round.

• Clear protocols for immediate error reporting.

• Additional education for coaches and referees on protest rights and procedures.

• Special invitation to the original fifth-place finisher for the 2026 U.S. National Poomsae Team Trials, ensuring no athlete is disadvantaged due to the error.

Case Closed

USATKD has declared the matter officially closed, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, fairness, and athlete-centered competition.

The organization reminded the Taekwondo community that the sport’s true strength lies in unity and that disagreements must be resolved respectfully, based on verified facts.