The Korea Triathlon Association has permanently expelled the head coach and a teammate of Choi Suk-hyeon, a triathlete who took her own life last month after reportedly enduring years of abuse. 

Six members of the association’s fairness committee made the decision on the coach, Kim Gyu-bong, and a senior athlete after seven hours of deliberation on Monday.

It is the maximum punishment that the association can impose. It also slapped a ten-year suspension on another member of the semi-pro club at Gyeongju City Hall. 

The punishment came ten days after Choi's death. 

The head coach and the two senior athletes appeared before a parliamentary committee on Monday and denied the allegations made against them.