SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers to weigh in on whether South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan should be allowed to compete in this summer’s Olympics:
RESULTS
Should Park Tae-hwan be allowed to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics?
- Yes – 60.2%
- No – 39.8%
Park’s case is a unique one. The four-time Olympic medalist tested positive for illegally high levels of testosterone in the fall of 2014, now almost two years ago. His FINA suspension was 18 months, bringing him back into Olympic eligibility as of this spring.
But Korea has a stricter policy for its national teamers, typically requiring any athlete who fails a doping test to sit out for three full years from national team competition after returning from their ban. That’s a very strict policy compared to other nations – the International Olympic Committee (IOC) tried to put a similar policy in place worldwide in 2008, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the policy violated IOC statutes.
Park was originally ruled out of the 2016 Olympics when the Korean Olympic Committee said it wouldn’t amend the rule for him.
But he was allowed to compete at Korean nationals last month, and swam well. He met with the Korean Olympic Committee earlier this month, literally begging to be allowed to compete.
Almost 800 of 1325 poll respondents voted in favor of letting Korea’s Park compete in Rio, believing that he’s served his sentence under international rules. The argument in favor of Park is that athletes of no other nationality would be banned for the same length in his case; the Korean Olympic Committee rule is the only factor keeping him ineligible for Rio.
On the other hand, about 40% of poll voters supported Korea’s current stance. Breaking the rule for Park could certainly create the impression that the Korean Olympic Committee was compromising its strong anti-doping stance for the sake of Olympic medals.
Park won gold in the 400 free in 2008 along with a silver in the 200 free, plus silvers in both events in 2012. He is Korea’s first-ever swimmer to win an Olympic medal of any color.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks what type of preparation Katie Ledecky should take for the U.S. Olympic Trials:
Loading ...
ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
A3 Performance was founded in 2004 and is based in Wisconsin. A3 Performance was founded on the ideals that great products could be made and offered at great prices. Innovation and purpose is the focus of all product development. The swimmer is the focus of everything we do.
The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner
Let da boy swim
Park’s case is indeed a unique one. How do we really know he just hasn’t tested positive for illegally high levels of abstinence?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11760788
I think the pro-Park South Korean propaganda machine stuffed the ballot box as part of the P.R. campaign to clear the path for Park to swim in Rio. I don’t believe for a second that 60% of Swimswam readers actually favor allowing him to compete.
He changes sport or either stops being allowed to swim at a professional level . Thats what it is .
Changes sport!? So you fail a drug test in the luge, just go jump in the 110m hurdles?
First, le Korean Olympic Committee shows a good example of exigence and fairness. Good signal, this will not to be represented by “cheaters”. But after it is a question of what you believe and I have a tendency to think this guy Park is not a cheater. To have swum for such a long time and be caught with such a visible steroid in his system, that cannot be. The swimmer is good, likeable and, am I naïve, honest. Let him swim, for his and our pleasure…
If these rules have been in place for a while, then this discussion should have been had ahead of time, not at the last minute. The ban should remain in place for this now. If South Korea thinks that it is appropriate for them to change the rule, they should do it on their own schedule, not under pressure from someone looking for an exception.
Has Park admitted to doping or is he still blaming his chiropractor or whatever?
Has he given blood samples every damn week during his suspension?
Geez, why even HAVE drug testing any more?
There are no serious consequences for cheating – Fail a drug test, heck fail TWO drug tests. That won’t keep you from competing…