PYEONGCHANG, South Korea: Japanese short-track speedskater Kei Saito has tested positive for a banned diuretic in the first doping case of the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Saito, a reserve on the 5,000-meter relay team, tested positive for acetalozamide, which can be used to treat conditions such as glaucoma and altitude sickness but can also be a masking agent to disguise the use of other banned substances.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced the case Tuesday, saying Saito “accepted on a voluntary basis to be provisionally suspended and to leave the Olympic Village.”
Saito did not race in any event before the test result from a pre-competition sample was confirmed. CAS said its judging panel handling Olympic doping cases will issue a final verdict after the games are over.
The Japanese Olympic Committee said Saito was tested after training on February 4, just before he went to bed in the athletes village.
In a statement, Saito denied intentionally doping and said he was “extremely shocked” by the results.
“I have never considered doping. I have never used anabolic steroids so I have never needed to try to hide it,” he said in the statement.
He said he accepted the provisional suspension because “I do not want to be a disturbance to my teammates competing at the Olympic Games ... and will leave the team and the athletes village voluntarily.”
Yasuo Saito, Vice President of the Japan Olympic Committee, said the JOC would work to help the 21-year-old skater clear his name after the Olympics.
“At this point, all we know is that the sample A and sample B tested positive. It is impossible for us to submit any evidence that prove them otherwise during the limited time,” Japan’s delegation leader said. “That is why we had to go with the provisional measure. The violation of the anti-doping rules has not been proven, so it is not decided yet. So please understand that point.
“Saito has no idea why this has happened, so we as Japanese Olympic team continue to make every effort to prove that there was no anti-rule violation by Kei Saito.”
Japanese skater suspended in first doping case in Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
Japanese skater suspended in first doping case in Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
Saudi golf professionals sign new partnerships with SAL
- By sponsoring Khalid Attieh and Faisal Salhab, SAL is reinforcing its commitment to nurturing talent
- Last Friday saw conclusion of 2025 SAL Golf Cup at scenic Nofa Golf Resort
RIYADH: SAL Logistics Services have announced the signing of sponsorship agreements with Saudi professional golfers Khalid Attieh and Faisal Salhab. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Dirab Golf & Country Club in Riyadh, attended by Rayan Al-Bakri, chief strategy, development & execution of SAL, and the athletes.
Under the partnerships, the national provider of logistics solutions will support the professional journeys of the athletes by equipping them with the necessary resources, providing an integrated marketing and media platform that highlights their presence in tournaments and sporting events, and enabling them to represent the SAL brand in local and international championships. The players will also take part in joint initiatives that promote the connection between sports and the logistics and supply chain ecosystem.
With the new sponsorship of Attieh and Salhab, SAL is aiming to reinforce its commitment to nurturing national talent and promoting global sportsmanship.
Al-Bakri said: “We are proud to sponsor a distinguished group of Saudi golfers who represent the Kingdom in major regional and international tournaments. These partnerships reinforce our belief in the importance of investing in national talent and linking their sporting achievements to the Kingdom’s transformational journey toward becoming a global center across multiple sectors, including sports and logistics, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Last Friday saw the conclusion of the 2025 SAL Golf Cup at the scenic Nofa Golf Resort. The event wrapped up a full year of monthly competitions that brought together more than 100 golfers and strengthened the local golf community across the Kingdom.
This year’s champions were crowned based on cumulative points earned throughout the season. Gerard Hattie claimed the Division A title with 1,510 points, while Mark Day secured the Division B championship with 1,300 points, both demonstrating consistency and strong performance throughout the year.
The event also featured Saudi professional golfer Othman Al-Mulla, sponsored by SAL, who took part in the tournament and presented additional prizes to the competition winners, adding a professional and inspiring touch to the celebration.
