Caught Drinking, Japan Gymnast Withdraws From Olympics
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Japanese Gymnastics Team Captain Withdraws From Paris Olympics After Underage Drinking, Smoking

David MorrowJul 23rd, 2024, 3:35 pm
Olympics

Shoko Miyata of Japan performs during Gymnastics NHK Trophy on May 18 at Takasaki Arena in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. Miyata is dropping out of the 2024 Paris Olympics. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

On Monday, CNN reported that Shoko Miyata, the captain of the Japanese women’s gymnastics team, is withdrawing from the 2024 Paris Olympics after the Japanese Gymnastics Association said she was caught breaking the team’s code of conduct by drinking alcohol and smoking.

Japan’s legal age for both activities is 20, and Miyata is 19. However, even if she had been of age, drinking alcohol and smoking both violate JGA’s code of conduct.

“Both parties discussed the matter and decided to withdraw [Miyata] from the Olympics,” JGA executive director Kenji Nishimura said, per CNN.

Nishimura told the media that Miyata was caught smoking “in a private place at a certain location in Tokyo,” and the drinking was a separate incident, which the eecutive director said occurred in a room in the Athlete Village of the National Training Center.

Nishimura said Miyata was drinking and smoking to cope with “numerous pressures from the competitive targets that had been set,” according to CNN.

“We would like to apologize from the bottom of our hearts for the great inconvenience and worry this has caused you,” JGA chief Tadashi Fujita said, according to CNN. “We are truly sorry.

“It’s not just Ms. Miyata’s responsibility. I believe the entire Gymnastics Association is responsible. Ms. Miyata must atone for the crime she committed, though, we will do our utmost to support her, so she can take a new step toward the future.”

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David Morrow - Editor In Chief

David Morrow is a whiskey critic and the Editor In Chief of The Daily Pour and has been with the company since 2021. David has worked in journalism since 2015 and has had bylines at Sports Illustrated, Def Pen, the Des Moines Register and the Quad City Times. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Saint Louis University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. When he’s not tasting the newest exciting beverages, David enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, watching sports, traveling and checking out breweries.

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