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Park tests positive for testosterone

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korea's swimming star Park Tae-hwan is facing an international hearing after testing positive for testosterone in July last year, reported the Yonhap news agency Tuesday.

Park's Seoul-based agency Team GMP blamed the positive result on an injection given by a local hospital, and state prosecutors in Seoul said Park received a testosterone injection at the hospital at the end of July, Yonhap reported. The administration of testosterone is prohibited by WADA.

According to prosecutors, officials from the hospital have testified that they gave Park the injection to help boost his hormone level but that they weren't aware that testosterone was a banned substance.

On the other hand, Park's camp has told the authorities that the swimmer repeatedly asked the hospital about the content of the injection and that he was assured that the shot would be clean. Prosecutors said Park underwent questioning last Sunday.

Prosecutors said they may indict the doctor who administered the injection, surnamed Kim, on charges of professional negligence.

Team GMP said on Monday Park didn't fail multiple doping tests during the Asian Games. It also said it would try to hold the hospital civilly and criminally liable for its action.

According a WADA official, Park will have to attend a FINA hearing to explain his situation.

"A world-class swimmer like Park is tested frequently out of competition," the WADA official said of the four-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion. "The severity of his penalty will be determined after his hearing."

The Korea Swimming Federation (KSF) was quoted by Yonhap as saying that Park had actually failed a test administered by FINA, the international swimming governing body, rather than WADA, as was first reported.

The KSF added that Park was tested ahead of the Asian Games in the South Korean city of Incheon, which opened in September, and was notified of the result in December.

Park won a gold and a silver at the 2008 Beijing Games to become South Korea's first Olympic swimming medalist.

He also won silver in both events at the 2012 London Olympics, along with 400m gold in the world championships in 2007 and 2011.

But the 25-year-old only won a silver and five bronze medals at the Asiad last year. Endit