Former Olympic champion swimmer Schoeman faces longer ban

Roland Schoeman denied doping and blamed contamination of the supplements he was taking.

New Delhi, 09/10/10-- Roland Schoeman of South Africa who finished second 9n the Mens 50 mtrs freestyle finals during the Commonwealth Games 2010 at Dr.S.P.Mukherjee Stadium in New Delhi on 09, October, 2010. Photo: S_Subramanium

Former Olympic champion Roland Schoeman appeared by video link Monday at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing that could ban him beyond next year’s Tokyo Games.

The World Anti-Doping Agency challenged a ruling by swimming governing body FINA to ban the 40-year-old South African for only one year after he tested positive for a black-market doping product.

The court said WADA has requested a ban of two to four years. A verdict is not expected for at least several weeks.

Mr. Schoeman competed at four previous Olympics. He won three medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, including gold in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.

The South African was training to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when he tested positive for GW501516 last year. The substance failed medical trials and led WADA to alert athletes in 2013 that it was a threat to their health.

Mr. Schoeman denied doping and blamed contamination of the supplements he was taking.

In a ruling in a similar case on Monday, Australian swimmer Shayna Jack was banned for two years for unintentional doping. An Australian sports tribunal previously recommended a four-year ban.