Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata has been sent home from the Paris Olympics due to allegations of smoking, local media reported on Friday.
According to an AFP report, the Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA) is currently investigating whether the 19-year-old captain of the women’s gymnastics team violated their code of conduct.
In Japan, smoking is prohibited for individuals under the age of 20. According to multiple reports, Miyata, who was considered a strong medal contender in Paris, has already left the team’s training camp in Monaco. Her participation in the Olympics remains “unclear.”
Miyata’s absence from Wednesday’s training session was noted, with a JGA official citing “certain reasons” for her nonattendance. Japanese Olympic officials are scheduled to hold a press conference in Tokyo on Friday afternoon to address the situation.
Miyata previously won bronze in the balance beam at the 2022 world championships in Liverpool and secured the all-around title at Japan’s national championships earlier this year.