CAS Overturns 4-Year Doping Ban for Japanese Race Walker Ikeda, Who Won Silver at Tokyo Olympics
CAS said Koki Ikeda provided medical evidence that explained abnormal blood readings, overturning his four-year sanction and restoring his eligibility.
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal by Japanese race walker Koki Ikeda, clearing the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist of an anti-doping violation and restoring his immediate eligibility to compete.
- In February 2025, the Athletics Integrity Unit had issued a four-year sanction after provisionally suspending Ikeda in November 2024, alleging blood manipulation based on abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport.
- A CAS panel in Lausanne found a reasonable non-doping explanation for the abnormalities, as Ikeda supported his appeal with substantial medical and expert evidence contradicting World Athletics' initial findings.
- Ikeda placed second in the 20km event at the Tokyo Games and World Championships in Eugene; he finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympics before his competitive results were disqualified during suspension.
- Separately, the AIU handed Ethiopian marathon runner Ruti Aga a six-year ban on Thursday for using a prohibited substance and tampering with evidence, combining a two-year ban plus four additional years.
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In February 2024, the AIU indicated that the Japanese athlete, who is now 28 years old, was suspected of "blood manipulation" due to "anomalies that were detected in the blood samples carried out on June 20, 2023 and then between August 16 and September 13, 2023." During a hearing at the TAS headquarters on May 11 and 12, Koki Ikeda presented elements that could explain these anomalies, especially by personal medical elements, explained the inst…
Walker Koki Ikeda, 28, is suddenly allowed to start competing -- halfway into his suspension. Perseus Karlström, 36, is surprised. “It was very strange values that he had,” says the Swede.
The Court considers the appeal of the Japanese citizen, who will be able to compete again despite his four-year sentence, when it ruled that anomalies in his biological passport have a medical explanation.
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