Tokyo, Japan

Japan's 19-year-old Shoko Miyata has been removed from the country's Paris Olympics 2024 participants list for smoking. The gymnast, set to take part in her first Olympic games, was sent home from the team's training camp at Monaco on Thursday (Jul 18).

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It is to be noted that Japan Gymnastics Association has a ban against smoking for athletes. Miyata was sent home after the officials investigated the alleged smoking incident.

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"With her confirmation and after discussions on all sides, it has been decided that she will withdraw from the Olympics," said Japan Gymnastics Association secretary general Kenji Nishimura to reporters in Tokyo.

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According to Nishimura, Miyata also looked exhausted at the training camp.

The gymnast's personal coach, Mutsumi Harada, meanwhile has said that Miyata was struggling to cope up with the 'pressure' of competing at her first Olympic games.

"She was spending her days really burdened with so much pressure. I would implore people to understand that," said the personal coach.

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Miyata shot to fame with a bronze medal in the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, England. The Olympics are set to start from July 26.

Seine fit for swimming

The River Seine has been clean enough to swim in for six of seven days tested ahead of the Olympic Games which get underway in a week, Paris city hall said on Friday (Jul 19).

The quality of the water met the required standards between July 10-16, two weeks before the open water events organised during the Olympics.

Weather permitting, the river will be the star of the opening ceremony of the Games on July 26 and will then host the triathlon and the swimming marathon. 

Despite improving water quality results since the end of June, suspense remains over whether these competitions can go ahead on the river through the French capital.

(With inputs from agencies)