Former Olympic champion Roland Schoeman appeared by video link Monday at a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing that could ban him beyond next year’s Tokyo Games.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 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.
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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.
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The substance failed medical trials and led WADA to alert athletes in 2013 that it was a threat to their health.
Schoeman denied doping and blamed contamination of the supplements he was taking.
His ban expired in May but he faces a longer sanction from CAS if he cannot prove the source of the contamination.
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A possible two-year ban, until May 2021, could still leave time to make South Africa’s team for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
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.
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