At least U.S. wasn’t going to graveyard for votes

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BEIJING -- Consistent with one of the grandest traditions in American politics, the U.S. Olympic Committee has been reprimanded for buying votes.

According to the Around the Rings website, the USOC was giving $50 vouchers to U.S. athletes if they would vote in the election for representatives to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel denied intentional wrongdoing. He said all U.S. athletes had been guaranteed $50 vouchers for the Olympic village gift store upon checkout. He said the athletes had been told they would be given the vouchers earlier if they voted in the election.

The United States has one athlete on the commission, former volleyball player Bob Ctvrtlik. But his term is expiring. The United States is not guaranteed a member. The USOC has nominated former soccer player Julie Foudy.

The IOC said it had also warned an unnamed athlete for distributing fliers.

--Randy Harvey