S’pore suspends Olympic champ swimmer Joseph Schooling for cannabis use

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s former Olympic swimming champion Joseph Schooling could miss key upcoming competitions after being punished by the city-state’s Defence Ministry following his confession that he had consumed cannabis while overseas.

The swimmer, who has been performing his two years of mandatory military service, tested negative for drugs but confessed to consuming the narcotic while abroad in May, the Defence Ministry said in a statement late yesterday.

At the time of the offence, Schooling had been allowed to pause his national service to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, where he won two golds and a bronze.

“Given his abuse of disruption privileges, Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in NS (National Service),” the ministry said.

The 27-year-old was given a warning and will be placed on a supervised urine test regime for six months, the ministry added.

Schooling released a statement yesterday apologising for taking the drug, an offence that carries strict penalties in Singapore.

“I gave in to a moment of weakness after going through a very tough period of my life,” the statement said.

The island nation has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, and its citizens and permanent residents face up to 10 years in prison if found to have consumed illegal substances outside the city-state.

Singapore requires all male citizens aged more than 18 to serve two years in the military, the police force or the emergency services, an obligation authorities rarely let people skip.

The Rio 2016 gold medallist in the 100m butterfly – Singapore’s only Olympic gold in its history – apologised in his statement but gave no details about his plans for his swimming career.

“I made a mistake and I’m responsible for what I’ve done... I won’t let you down again,” he said.

Schooling caused a sensation at Rio 2016 when he beat Michael Phelps to win the 100m butterfly.

But the city-state’s first-ever Olympic champion relinquished his title after failing to qualify in the same event at last year’s Tokyo Games, and has dropped several hints recently that his career is coming to an end. – AFP, August 31, 2022