シンガポール初の五輪金メダリスト、大麻使用を謝罪

【シンガポールＡＦＰ＝時事】２０１６年のリオデジャネイロ五輪で、シンガポール選手初となる五輪金メダルに輝いた競泳男子のジョセフ・スクーリングが３０日、海外滞在時に大麻を使用していたことを告白して謝罪した。（写真は競泳男子のジョセフ・スクーリング）
　シンガポールは薬物に対してとりわけ厳しい法律を施行している国で、市民や永住権の持ち主が国外で違法薬物を使用したことが発覚した場合、最大で禁錮１０年を科される場合もある。
　スクーリングは「とてもつらい時期を過ごした後、一瞬の心の弱さに負けてしまった」と発表。国防省も同日、現在２年の兵役義務期間にあるスクーリングが、検査では陰性だったものの、５月に国外で大麻を使用したことを告白したと発表した。
　この時期、スクーリングは許可を得ていったん兵役を離れて練習に復帰し、ベトナムのハノイで開催された東南アジア競技大会に参加。大会では金二つ、銅一つのメダルを獲得した。軍はスクーリングを戒告処分とし、監視下での尿検査を６か月続ける態勢を敷くと話している。シンガポールでは、１８歳になった男性は１８か月から２年を軍隊か警察、救急隊で過ごす必要があり、免除はほとんど認められない。
　リオ五輪の１００メートルバタフライで金メダルを獲得したスクーリングは、「私は過ちを犯した。自らの行いの責任は自分にある。もう二度とみなさんをがっかりさせない」と謝罪したが、今後の現役キャリアについて詳しいことは明かさなかった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/09/01-22:19）

Singapore's former Olympic swimming champion Joseph Schooling apologised on Tuesday for taking cannabis while overseas, according to a statement, an offence that carries strict penalties in his home country.
Singapore has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, and its citizens and permanent residents face up to 10 years in prison if found to have consumed illegal substances outside the city-state.
I gave in to a moment of weakness after going through a very tough period of my life, Schooling said in a statement.
The swimmer, who has been performing his two years of mandatory military service, tested negative for drugs but confessed to consuming cannabis overseas in May, the defence ministry said in a separate statement late Tuesday.
At the time of the offence, Schooling had been allowed to pause his national service to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, where he won two golds and a bronze.
Given his abuse of disruption privileges, (Private) Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in NS (National Service), the ministry said.
The 27-year-old was given a warning and will be placed on a supervised urine test regime for six months, the ministry added.
Singapore requires all male citizens aged more than 18 to serve two years in the military, the police or the emergency services, an obligation authorities rarely let people skip.
The Rio 2016 gold medallist in 100m butterfly -- Singapore's only Olympic gold in its history -- apologised in his statement but gave no details about his plans for his swimming career.
I made a mistake and I'm responsible for what I've done... I won't let you down again, he said.
Schooling caused a sensation at Rio 2016 when he beat Michael Phelps to win the 100m butterfly.
But the city-state's first-ever Olympic champion relinquished his title after failing to qualify in the same event at last year's Tokyo Games, and has dropped several hints recently that his career is coming to an end.