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Fencer Saves Face after Plastic Surgery

Posted on: Thursday, 26 January 2006, 00:15 CST

SEOUL -- South Korean fencing authorities have reduced the suspension imposed on one of the country's top fencers who was dropped from the team for two years for undergoing plastic surgery.

Nam Hyun-hee, a foil fencer, had cosmetic surgery in December on her eyes to fix a problem that meant her eyelashes were bothering her vision, fencing officials said.

Along with the eye surgery, she also decided to have a little work done on her cheeks to increase their size, they said.

Nam had been dropped from the national team for missing training because of her surgery and not informing the proper authorities about the procedure, South Korean fencing officials said.

Upon further review, officials said on Thursday they would reduce her punishment to six months' suspension.

"Everyone does plastic surgery these days," said Kim Guk-hyeon, the executive director of the Korean Fencing Federation.

"A national team player, however, is different from other people," Kim said by telephone. "They have to be prepared to fight like a soldier."

Yoon Nam-jin, the national team coach, said by telephone he thought the suspension would be reduced further to one or two months and Nam would not miss any international competitions.

Source: REUTERS

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