The Japanese Anti-Doping Authority (JADA) has handed a 4-month suspension to 25-year-old swimmer Takeharu Fujimori for having tested positive for a banned substance.
According to the Japanese Swimming Federation, as well as JADA, Takeharu showed a positive reaction to banned substance ‘Osterin’ at an in-competition test conducted at a domestic meet held in May.
Per the USADA, Ostarine is the trademarked name for a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is not approved for human use or consumption in the U.S., or in any other country. In recent years, WADA has reported an increasing number of positive tests involving SARMs, and athletes who use these substances most likely obtain them through black market channels. (USADA)
Takeharu reportedly argued he used supplements given to him by a Japanese Swimming Federation trainer before the competition to help widen blood vessels and improve blood flow, but the supplements were tainted with the banned substance. (NHK)
The swimmer was originally suspended for 5 months, but after an investigation by the arbitration agency that received the petition from Takeharu, the suspension was reduced to 4 months. The suspension’s start date was July 26th, which means Takeharu’s ban will not prevent him from competing at Japan’s Olympic Trials held in April of 2020.
Through his agent, Fujimori stated, “I never imagined that a positive reaction would occur if I mixed with supplements that had been explained to be safe.”
Fujimori did not compete at this year’s FINA World Aquatic Championships.
At the Japan Swim in April of this year, Fujimori finished 4th in the 200m IM (1:59.36) and 3rd in the 400m IM (4:13.90). He did finish with the 400m IM bronze (4:17.88) at the Japan Open in May, which may be the meet at which he tested positive.
The JADA decision is posted below.
Fujimori is far from the first Japanese swimmer in recent history to have received a doping suspension from JADA. In March of this year we reported how 2017 World Championships bronze medalist Hiromasa Fujimori tested positive for methylephedrine. (We are checking on if Takeharu is related to Hiromasa.)
Prior to that, in March 0f 2018, another World Championships medalist, Junya 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”.
We will continue to update this post as more details become available.
Here is an example of real racism outside of skin color. It is no secret that Chinese and Japanese hate each other (for a large part of their populations especially compared to other countries). One has Fina in their pockets, and the other is subject to the real rules/enforcement of WADA. If this dude swam for China, you would never hear about it and no one would know.,.. I still dont agree with what he did, but this whole thing is actually very transparent. In case you dont know what I’m talking about…I’m saying China is behind this and trying to get you distracted from the Sun Yang hearing…. I know this comment wont be posted in China, and if… Read more »
Conspiracy theory is made by people who are illogical with no evidence…Silly.
Isn’t there something wrong when it is the Japanese Anti-Doping Authority determining what the sanction should be for one of their own swimmers? The system would have more credibility if the drug testing and the punishment were in the hands of an entirely independent body.
First the older brother, now the younger one as well.
Note that when Russian swimming and anti-doping was in damage control mode a few years back, Yana Martynova got four years for a positive test for the same substance, effectively ending her career. So call me rather unimpressed at the penalty Japan assessed here.
yup The timing of the drug use was not random. It’s probably timed for optimum performance at the 2020 olympics. So he will train hard now during the suspension with the drugs in his system; build his body and be ready to go for tokyo.
Just adds to my suspicion that to get to that level of sport you have to do things like this
I am inevitable
thanks for the downvotes Sun Yang and Shayna Jack
you wish
Boy it’s a good thing he isn’t from China
Annnnd another one bites the dust!
Lots of pressure on the home front to do well in next year’s Olympics. I wonder what the other Japanese swimmers are feeling.