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A one-year anti-doping ban on Japanese female marathoner Kaori Yoshida has been extended by another year, the Japan Sports Arbitration Agency said Tuesday.
The 32-year-old athlete tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug erythropoietin (EPO) after finishing fourth at last December's Honolulu Marathon.
She claimed she had received medication from a doctor in November to treat anemia without knowing that the prescription contained the banned substance.
The offense normally merits a two-year suspension but the body that handles disciplinary measures, the Japan Doping Prevention and Discipline Panel, in May decided to suspend Yoshida for one year.
The Japan Anti-Doping Agency filed an appeal against the decision with the arbitration panel, saying that two years were warranted because Yoshida failed to pay sufficient attention.
© (C) 2013 AFP
4 Comments
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smithinjapan
B-b-b-b-b-but I thought doping doesn't happen in Japan! Hope this doesn't hurt Tokyo's promise for a drug-free Olympics!
CraigHicks
I just checked Olympic records. Two Japanese volleyball players were busted in 1984, since then nothing in either winter or summer games. I would say it is a relatively good record.
Pleased with JADA decision, regardless of whether or not she knew.
Hide Suzuki
@smithinjapan
Well, there have been 83 Canadian athletes who got tested positive for banned substance so Japan's record is definitely better if not perfect.
http://www.cces.ca/en/historyadic
BurakuminDes
Glad they caught her. Drugs in sport here is likely a smaller problem than many countries, I reckon.