The ISU and Korean Air have now agreed to postpone the start of·their sponsorship until after the vote to decide which city will host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6, 2011.

Korean Air had signed a two-year deal earlier this month with the ISU to become the title sponsor of its·World Cup Short Track series.

The warning is an embarrassment for Cho and Pyeongchang officials.

The ISU is headed by·Italian Ottavio Cinquanta, who is an IOC member and considered a potentially influential figure in the vote for 2018, where Pyeongchang face rivals Annecy and Munich.

"The ISU and Korean Air - a partner of the Pyeongchang 2018 bid committee - have agreed to postpone their partnership until after the vote on who will host the Olympic Winter Games in 2018," the IOC said in its statement.

"The Ethics Commission reminded Pyeongchang 2018 and its related organisations to fully respect the rules of conduct related to candidate cities and issued a warning."

But the IOC ruled that a sponsorship deal between Samsung, another Korean company, and FISA to sponsor the World Rowing Championships did not break any rules.

Denis Oswald, the President of FISA, who is also a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board, has decided that he will not vote in Durban "to avoid a perception of conflict of interests".

"The IOC Ethics Commission recognised that FISA and its President acted in good faith," a statement from the IOC said.

Pyeongchang now want to put the episode behind them as a quickly as possible.

"We are aware of the decision taken by Korean Air to delay their sponsorship of the International Skating Union until after the Host City decision on the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games," said a statement.

"We appreciate the logic of this decision at this time which has also been conveyed to the International Olympic Committee.

"We believe that this matter is now closed and we can all move forward into the next phase of the 2018 bid campaign.

"Pyeongchang 2018 has always been and continues to remain committed complying with all IOC rules and regulations."

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