A few additional pieces of the doping case puzzle involving South Korean Olympic swimmer Park Tae hwan have come to light this week across Asian news publications, although the specific details of the situation still seem to be quite elusive. As we reported, last weekend, Park met with members of the Korean Swimming Federation (KSF) and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) to discuss strategies regarding helping Park avoid a doping ban that could cost him his eligibility for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Now on February 6th in Korea, Yonhap News Agency says that the doctor involved in giving Park the testosterone-infused injection, has been indicted on charges of professional negligence. The Central District Prosecutors’ Office said that the doctor “administered the injection ‘nebido’ containing testosterone last July without fully disclosing the risks and side effects to the swimmer.”
Prosecutors believe that the doctor in question also was unaware of testosterone’s being a banned substance and cite precedents in South Korea and Japan where the doctor has a “professional obligation to confirm the contents and risks of all drugs prescribed to patients.” Prosecutors even went so far as to say that the modification of Park‘s hormone levels rendered by the injection constituted “bodily harm.”
According to the Korean Swimming Federation (KSF), “A” and “B” urine samples from Park were taken in early September and the Olympic medalist was informed of his positive result of the “A” sample at the end of last October. Park then asked for analysis of the “B” sample as well, which after being tested for three days at a WADA-accredited lab in Montreal starting December 2nd, also came back positive for a testosterone.
Also this week, news publication, The Chosun Ilbo, revealed that Park has submitted to the prosecution a tape recording of conversations he had with the head of the clinic which was responsible for the testosterone injection. The article states that the doctor was unaware that Park had recorded their conversations, while swimmer claims he taped their conversations in the presence of a lawyer last year.
Park’s camp is said to provide official comment after his February 27th FINA hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland. The KSF confirms Park has enlisted a Switzerland-based lawyer, yet to be identified, to assist with the case.
Do you have confidence in the hearing or are they on the take too?
a pure fabrication…
Can anyone explain why Sun Yang only got a 3 month ban for usage of banned substance back in 2014?
“Park met with members of the Korean Swimming Federation (KSF) and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) to discuss strategies regarding helping Park avoid a doping ban that could cost him his eligibility for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.”
Wait, I have always been under the impression that a Federation and National Olympic Committee are suppose to help keep their sports clean, not helping their athletes beat sanctions from positive tests. Guess I was naive.
Those were my initial thoughts exactly……and then I reminded myself to “get real”.
Saying that they have tape recordings sounds like scare tactics. Release the tapes or didn’t happen.
And why would you take a tape recorder to your chiropractor’s office? Seems very strange to me.
David – I think given the excuses that have become so commonplace, if I was legitimately innocent, and I were good enough that anybody cared, I’d take a tape recorder into the doctor’s office with me every time. Maybe in 2007 I wouldn’t have, but if we’re to believe that 90% of doping cases are “accidental” as the accused seem to claim they are…I’d record my whole life.
It says above that Park claims he recorded the conversations in the presence of a lawyer. That leads me to believe that perhaps the recording was made sometime after the initial visit, perhaps after the “A” sample tested positive.
Even if Park’s story is completely true — and I’m not saying I think it is — he really needs to be severely sanctioned, including missing the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics. Anything less would indicate to all that the doping rules have no teeth, and any hope of keeping the sport reasonably clean might as well be forgotten.
Lol would you understand the conversation if they had?
Jiggs could translate!
This is laughable! Only the guidable believe this crap. I feel sorry for the clean swimmers that have to compete against the cheaters. FINA needs to implement a lifetime ban on the 1st offense for all athletes in all countries. Only then will this make an impact. Short bans do nothing but encourage people to cheat and try to get away with it.
This is a mess
날 믿어, 나는의사예요 .
I couldn’t agree with you more; good insight!
그래, 당신은 그 말을하지만, 정말 있었다. your’re는 치과 의사.