by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
Olympic swimmer Park Tae-hwan, who is currently serving an 18-month doping suspension, has been approved to resume training at a public pool beginning June 1, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Park, 25, is one of South Korea’s most decorated swimmers, with four Olympic medals, two world titles and 20 Asian Games medals under his belt.
In early September, the Korean swimmer tested positive for testosterone in a drug test ahead of the Asian Games. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) handed the Olympic medalist an 18-month ban, which was backdated from the day he received the positive test, making him eligible to return to competition before the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Under FINA’s anti-doping policy, Park is banned from training at any facility managed by the South Korean government or the Korea Swimming Federation (KSF).
However, since the restriction does not include public pools, Park is planning to join his old coach Roh Min-sang’s class at the Olympic Swimming Pool. According to Yonhap, parents of the other swimmers in the class agreed to allow Park join their children.
Park’s suspension is slated to end on March 2, 2016. Next month, Park is scheduled to testify against the doctor he is accusing of negligence in the administration of a shot containing testosterone.
Recommended Reading
“Olympic Swimmer Park Tae-hwan’s Doctor Indicted for Negligence”
“Korean Olympic Committee Reconsidering Park Tae-hwan’s Doping Ban”
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Featured image via Yonhap