By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
While South Korean Olympic swimming sensation Park Tae-hwan waits to discover the consequences of his failed drugs test last September, a doctor at the center of the scandal was indicted by local prosecutors Friday.
Identified by his surname Kim, the physician in question allegedly injected Park with Nebido, which contains testosterone and is generally known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
As Seoul prosecutors revealed their findings, they announced Kim’s indictment for professional negligence, according to local news agency Yonhap – while also accusing the doctor of causing the swimmer bodily harm.
Investigators said that Kim did not fully disclose the risks of the treatment he administered to Park last July, just weeks ahead of the Asian Games on South Korean soil.
They also believe, however, that the doctor did not realize that testosterone was a banned substance -- despite Park raising the question.
The 25-year-old former Olympic and world champion will appear before swimming’s world governing body FINA on Feb. 27 in Switzerland.
Regardless of any local punishment of Park’s doctor, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules make clear that “athletes are responsible for their choice of medical personnel and for advising medical personnel that they cannot be given any prohibited substance.”
If his attempt to plead ignorance fails, a suspension of any length would automatically rule Park out of the Rio 2016 Games under Korean Olympic Association doping guidelines.
He could also have six medals from last autumn’s Asian Games taken away from him – medals that were won in an arena bearing the Park Tae-hwan name.
Park’s journey to becoming a national icon began in earnest in 2008, when he won his country’s first Olympic swimming gold medal.
