BBC


 

 
Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata has been sent home and will not compete at the Olympic Games after breaking a team smoking ban.

The 19-year-old left Japan's training camp in Monaco on Thursday as officials investigated the alleged incident.

The teenager - captain of her country's women's artistic gymnastics team - returned to Japan that night after the investigation concluded she had violated the Japan Gymnastics Association's rules.

Smoking is in violation of the association's code of conduct.

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

Nishimura added that Miyata had "looked exhausted" at the camp in Monaco.

Mutsumi Harada, Miyata's personal coach, said the gymnast was struggling with the "pressure" of competing at the Games.

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

Miyata won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool and she had been set to lead a team of first-time Olympians in Paris.

Japan are aiming to gain their first artistic gymnastics team medal since the 1964 Tokyo Games.

The Paris Games open on 26 July.