Japanese snowboarder tests positive for marijuana

[Hash]

A Japanese snowboarder, who is apparently one of the country's hopefuls for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, has been suspended from competition for 10 months after testing positive for marijuana, sources familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) gave the suspension to the unnamed 19-year-old athlete for violating doping rules at a World Cup meet held in Switzerland last October.

The suspension went into effect Dec. 10, when the ruling was handed down, and runs until Oct. 9 this year.

The athlete has denied using marijuana and a source with the Ski Association of Japan suggested it was possible the boarder ingested smoke from other people while riding a gondola.

SAJ officials said the athlete accepted the suspension rather than fight, because it could interfere with competing in the Olympics in Turin next February, if the ruling were to drag on.

The athlete, who has won the national championships in the past and has also made podium finishes at World Cup meets, will have a chance to make the Japanese team traveling to Turin after retuning to competition in October.



Source: Yahoo! Asia News
Copyright: 2005 Yahoo! Pte Ltd.
Website: Latest News & Current Event Updates | Yahoo News Singapore

 

[DaHui]

Gee looky here, just like Ross Rebagliati, the Canadian snowboarder that won the Olympics in Nagano in 1998... Tested positive for marijuana, blamed it on second hand smoke and kept his gold medal...

 

[Uprising]

Gee looky here, just like Ross Rebagliati, the Canadian snowboarder that won the Olympics in Nagano in 1998... Tested positive for marijuana, blamed it on second hand smoke and kept his gold medal...

exactly what I was going to point out.

 

[Euphoricpa]

anyone remember that snowboarding was created by stoners who didnt like skiing? thats liek yelling at someone for being high while playing hacky sack.