Keirin's Olympic inclusion investigated by BBC

An investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has uncovered allegations that the Japanese cycling event, Keirin, "may have bought its way" into the Olympic Games.

According to BBC.co.uk, "documents given to the BBC suggest that US $3million (£1.5million) was paid by organisers of a Japanese cycling event to the UCI - the world cycling body."

Keirin was subsequently supported for inclusion into the Games by the UCI and admitted in 1996.

Denmark's Henrik Elmgreen, a member of UCI at the time, told the BBC that âwe must admit that when they came it was because the Japanese were very influential in the UCI and they offered a lot of money in order to promote this discipline. You can to a certain extent say they bought their way in but on the other hand it is a spectacular discipline.

"Everybody knew the Japanese were supporting the world cup series and were supporting everything and I think everybody realised that they weren't doing it for nothing. They wanted something in return and everybody knew what they got in return."

The UCI and its president at the time, Hein Verbruggen, deny any wrongdoing.

For more information go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7525072.stm