Pyeongchang Winter Olympics rocked by failed drugs test

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics rocked by failed drugs test



A Japanese short-track speed skater has produced the first positive drugs test of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.



Kei Saito failed an out-of-competition test, with Acetazolamide found in his system. The Court of Arbitration for Sport anti-doping division, which announced the violation, lists the substance as a 'diuretic or masking agent'.



The 21-year-old has now left the Olympics under a provisional suspension. It will cause embarrassment for Japan, who made a big play of their clean doping record ahead of being awarded the hosting rights for the 2020 Olympics.





A CAS statement read: 'Kei Saito, short track speed skating, Japan, positive out of competition test with acetalozamide diuretic/masking agent/specified substance). An order on request for a provisional suspension has been issued by the CAS ADD.



'The athlete accepted on a voluntary basis to be provisionally suspended and to leave the Olympic Village. As a consequence, the athlete is provisionally suspended from competing at the OWG Pyeongchang 2018 and at any future ISU competition pending the resolution of this matter.



'No results at the OWG Pyeongchang 2018 have been affected. The procedure the merit of the case will continue and the CAS ADD will issue a final award after the end of the Games.'



The positive test is the first ever by a Japanese athlete at the Winter Olympics.