SINGAPORE: Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling has apologised after admitting to taking cannabis while overseas in May.
“I am sorry that my actions have caused hurt to everyone around me, especially to my family and the young fans who look up to me,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 30).
“I gave in to a moment of weakness after going through a very tough period of my life. I demonstrated bad judgment and I am sorry.
“I made a mistake and I’m responsible for what I’ve done. I will make amends and right what is wrong. I won’t let you down again.”
Schooling confessed to taking cannabis while he was on short-term disruption from full-time National Service (NS) to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Tuesday.
In a separate statement, Sport Singapore (SportSG) said that the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) had conducted investigations into Schooling and fellow national swimmer Amanda Lim for possible offences related to the consumption of cannabis.
At the conclusion of these investigations, Lim was issued with a stern warning by CNB under the Misuse of Drugs Act while Schooling was referred to MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) so that they could “take the appropriate measures, given that he is currently undergoing National Service”.
Urine tests for controlled drugs conducted on Schooling returned negative but he confessed to taking cannabis while overseas in May.
Under SAF’s policy on drug abuse, those who are suspected of or who have confessed to abusing drugs will be placed on a supervised urine test regime as part of their treatment and rehabilitation process.
As a result of his abuse of disruption privileges, Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in NS, MINDEF said.
“A formal letter of warning has also been issued to PTE Schooling, informing him of the serious consequences of drug abuse meted out to all SAF personnel, who may be sentenced up to nine months detention in the SAF Detention Barracks,” the ministry added.