Official Statement From Corporate Federation Director Nishikawa on Anti-Doping Violation and Sanction

A statement by Koichiro Nishikawa, chairperson of the Japan Industrial Track and Field Association

At the 37th National Corporate Women's Ekiden organized by the Japan Industrial Track and Field Association (JITA), a prohibited substance was detected in a sample taken from Moeno Nakamura, at the time a member of the Universal Entertainment team, in an in-competition drug test. After receiving notification of this result, in accordance with the recommendations of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency disciplinary panel, Nakamura was suspended for one year and three months beginning Nov. 26, 2017.

As the JITA not only do we hold anti-doping education sessions for athletes and coaches in partnership with the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and clearly specify that our events must be carried out in strict accordance with anti-doping regulations, but as the JITA chairperson I have personally given strong emphasis to the importance of "Clean Sport." In spite of these efforts, the fact that a top-level athlete and team could end up in these circumstances at one of Japan's most celebrated national championship events is a very regrettable betrayal of the trust of fans, competitors and organizers.

Following the ruling in this case, as the organizers of the 37th National Corporate Women's Ekiden we sincerely apologize to all those who love and support athletics, those in the athletics industry, the athletes and sponsors of this event and ask for your understanding and trust as we take the following steps moving forward:

• After receiving the formal judgment of the JITA disciplinary panel we will disqualify the team in question and annul its overall and individual stage results at the 37th National Corporate Women's Ekiden, revoke its awards and prize money and adjust other teams' standings in the results accordingly (see below).
• In accordance with published JITA rules and regulations, we will take appropriate measures against the person in question including suspension of their JITA registration.
• In addition, the JITA will take the necessary steps to bar the team in question from competing in JITA-organized ekiden competitions until such time as the team management can adequately demonstrate to the satisfaction of the JITA that this anti-doping violation was purely due to the actions of the individual in question and that sufficient steps are being taken within the team organization to prevent a recurrence.

To regain the trust and support of fans and to ensure "Clean Sport" in all aspects of corporate league athletes' activity, the JITA will improve its education efforts for both athletes and their coaches and take every measure we can to prevent this situation from happening again. For any enquiries or concerns please contact us at 03-3487-2221.

Adjusted top eight team placings for 37th National Corporate Women's Ekiden:

1. Panasonic (East Japan) - 2:17:07
2. Daihatsu (Kansai) - 2:17:52
3. Japan Post (East Japan) - 2:17:54
4. Daiichi Seimei (East Japan) - 2:17:57
5. Tenmaya (Chugoku) - 2:18:54
6. Yamada Denki (East Japan) - 2:19:13
7. Shiseido (East Japan) - 2:19:44
8. Toyota Jidoshokki (Chubu) - 2:20:00

Teams placing 9th and lower will also have their placings adjusted upward by one place. Corrected results will be posted on our website as soon as they have been prepared.

For the 6.795 km Sixth Stage, the stage winner award will now go to Shiho Takechi of the Yamada Denki team, who ran 21:21. Stage winner awards for the First through Fifth stages are unaffected.

More background on this story.  Nakamura's statement.

source articles:
http://www.jita-trackfield.jp/topics/1443/
http://www.jita-trackfield.jp/topics/7-6/
translated by Brett Larner