Kang Jung-ho makes the roster amid alleged sexual assault

Kang Jung-ho makes the roster amid alleged sexual assault. July. 08, 2016 08:44. by 강홍구기자 windup@donga.com. Kang Jung-ho (29) of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who has been investigated over an alleged sexual assault, made the starters’ list in an away game with the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday local time. The decision to put him on the roster is in line with the club’s policy that Kang will be allowed to play until the investigation is concluded. The Korean slugger contributed to the Pirates’ 7-5 win, pulling off a two-run hit in the 7th inning with one hit, one four ball, and two runs in four at-bats. After the game was over, Kang had an interview but gave no answers to questions related to his allegation, following the club policy.

By the principle of presumption of innocence, Major League clubs do not impose discriminatory treatments on their players such as suspension until judicial process is completed. U.S. media outlets pointed out that Kang should not be subjected to discriminatory measures such as suspension until his allegation is proven and leads to indictment.

“There is a huge difference between being investigated for a crime and being charged with a crime,” said Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. “Until the police uncover enough evidence to charge Kang, we shouldn’t try to guess.”

This draws a stark contrast with the Korean baseball clubs notorious for their knee-jerk reaction of penalizing scandals first. As a rule, disciplinary measures should be taken, after the due judicial process is finished, but Article 151 on athletes’ dignity, which has been incorporated in the local baseball regulation, allows the use of disqualification and suspension in the event that the player in question cause scandals outside the field such as racial discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual violence among others.

Last year, the KT Wiz suspended catcher Jang Sung-woo for 50 games over his social media scandal before the court ruling was rendered. “In Korea, it is difficult to ignore the public sentiment and their opinions, so the clubs have no choice but to punish their players first,” said an official at a local baseball team. In fact, Yun Sung-hwan and Ahn Ji-man, the Samsung Lions pitchers who underwent a police investigation on the charge of gambling, too were banned from playing even before the investigation was concluded.