Published : Jan. 27, 2015 - 20:32
Reeling from the shocking news of a failed doping test, South Korean Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan faces an international hearing, officials said Tuesday.
The news of Park’s positive test emerged Monday, and his Seoul-based agency Team GMP, while confirming the result, blamed it on an injection given by a local hospital.
The Korea Swimming Federation said Tuesday that Park had actually failed a test administered by FINA, the international swimming governing body, rather than the World Anti-Doping Agency, as was first reported.
Park Tae-hwan. (Yonhap)
The KSF added that Park was tested ahead of the Asian Games in the South Korean city of Incheon, which opened in September, and was notified of the result in December.
Later on Tuesday, state prosecutors in Seoul said Park received a testosterone injection at the hospital at the end of July.
The administration of testosterone is prohibited by WADA.
According to prosecutors, officials from the hospital have testified that they gave Park the injection to help boost his hormone level but that they weren’t aware that testosterone was a banned substance.
On the other hand, Park’s camp has told the authorities that the swimmer repeatedly asked the hospital about the content of the injection and that he was assured that the shot would be clean.
Prosecutors said Park underwent questioning last Sunday.
Prosecutors said they may indict the doctor who administered the injection, surnamed Kim, on charges of professional negligence.
Team GMP said on Monday Park didn’t fail multiple doping tests during the Asian Games. It also said it would try to hold the hospital civilly and criminally liable for its action.
According to a WADA official, Park will have to attend a FINA hearing to explain his situation.
“A world-class swimmer like Park is tested frequently out of competition,” the official said of the four-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion. “The severity of his penalty will be determined after his hearing.”
FINA’s executive director, Cornel Marculescu, told AFP that the world swimming body’s antidoping commission would meet in late February. (Yonhap)