In the latest development regarding Japanese swimmer Junya Koga‘s positive doping test dating back to last year, the 31-year-old has now seen his suspension reduced.
Koga reportedly failed two drug tests in the month of March 2018, which resulted in his being removed from the Japanese National Team. Koga tested positive for traces of ‘banned muscle-building substances’, which the Olympian denied having taken knowingly. The substances were later identified as selective androgen receptor modulators “LGD-4033” and “SARM S-22”.
After being handed a 4-year ban by FINA for having tested positive for a prohibited substance, World Championships medalist Koga appealed to the Court Arbitration of Sport (CAS).
Japanese media reports today that his ban has been reduced to 2 years, with Koga being able to return to competition on May 14, 2020. That would be after the Japanse Olympic Trials that are set for early April, however, most likely rendering the Rio Olympian out of a home nation-hosted Games.
At the time of the positive test announcement, Koga told the press, “I feel ashamed, miserable and frustrated. I couldn’t believe it — I thought it was some mistake.
“I didn’t know if it was real, or a dream. I never took the substance detected intentionally. But I’m responsible for proving that. To those who support me, I’m sorry.” (Japan Times)
Koga earned the 50m back silver medal last year in Budapest at the 2017 World Championships. He also earned 50m backstroke gold at the 2016 Short Course World Championships in Windsor, as well as represented Japan at the 2016 Olympics as part of the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay.
Translation assistance provided by Rebecca Nishikawa- Roy.
Ignoring the fact that he took steroids for second; Junya Koga has the best backstroke start technique I’ve ever seen. If you wanna learn how to get better, just watch him.
Top athletes always have their suspensions reduced. It is usually only irrelevant 2nd-tier athletes that are suspended for the full four years, which allows anti-doping agencies to posture that they are tough on doping. A case in point would be the female Russian 4:35 400 freestyler, who was something like 18th at the Moscow championships, and who recently received a 4-year ban from Rusada.
Why the reduction in doping ban? What did he prove that enabled a reduction in the ban?
Wish I took SARMs during my swimming career
Does CAS do anything besides reduce doping violation suspensions? Serious question. Every time I read about these things it seems that it always ends up with “[athlete] appealed their case with CAS and their suspension was reduced.” Do they ever uphold a suspension?
What’s the reason for the reduction? Are they saying it wasn’t intentional?
It’s starting to look like reductions are as standard as the initial suspension. “That’s a standard four years…and if you protest even slightly, we’ll take two years off so that you can go the Olympics”
But he can’t swim at the olympics in this case…
Neither were a certain 3 swimmers at rio.
I can’t really think of any way someone could ‘accidentally’ take SARMs without it being criminal