Park Tae-hwan apologizes for doping ban

Gold medallist Sun Yang of China (R) and bronze medallist Park Tae-hwan of South Korea join hands to acknowledge their fans after the men's 400m freestyle final swimming competition at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Center during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, September 23, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

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Park banned 18 months for doping

South Korean swimming star Park Tae-hwan was banned 18 months by world swimming body FINA on Monday after failing a drug test last year.

The ban will run until March 2, 2016 which rules him out of this year's world championships in Kazan, Russia from July 17 to August 2, but allow him to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The 25-year-old tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid at an out-of-competition control before the Asian Games on September 3 last year. More