Coming off myriad conversations in 2021 surrounding cannabis, athletic performance and the Olympics, Singapore swimmer and Olympic champion Joseph Schooling confessed to consuming cannabis overseas in May earlier this year, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF).
In the statement, MINDEF also said that another national swimmer, Amanda Lim, was investigated for possible offenses related to cannabis consumption.
According to MINDEF, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) concluded its investigations of the athlete and passed on management of the case to Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), with Schooling as a full-time national serviceman. Schooling admitted to consuming cannabis while on short-term disruption from full-time national service to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games, according to MINDEF.
“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,” Schooling said. “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.”
In the statement, MINDEF said it has issued a warning to Schooling and that he will also be required to test his urine over a six-month period.
“Given his abuse of disruption privileges, Private Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in National Service,” MINDEF said. The Ministry added that a “formal letter of warning” was also sent to Schooling regarding the “serious consequences of drug abuse” for SAF personnel, “who may be sentenced up to nine months detention in the SAF Detention Barracks.”
Lim was also issued a stern warning by the CNB under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Schooling is Singapore’s first and only Olympic champion and wrapped up the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam with two gold medals and bronze back in May. He was unable to defend his Rio Olympic title last year in the 100m butterfly event, placing 44th overall and failing to progress to the semi-finals of the event.
Sport Singapore (SportSG), a statutory board and lead agency tasked with developing Singapore’s sports culture, spoke out, saying it takes a serious view of national athletes’ misconduct and noting both Lim and Schooling are national carded athletes receiving support from the organization.
“All TeamSG athletes are expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct as representatives of Singapore on the sporting world stage, at all times. Unlawful or unsportsmanlike conduct will not be condoned,” SportSG said. “SportSG intends to thoroughly review the circumstances behind these cases, and determine the appropriate steps to be taken thereafter.”
SportSG also indicated that the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) will review appropriate actions from their respective positions.
“Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance stance towards drugs. SportSG and SSA will be engaging the swimming and other sporting fraternities to underscore the importance of complying with Singapore’s laws on drugs at all times,” SportSG said.
Schooling’s story reignites the similar experience of Sha’Carri Richardson, who was banned from competing in the Olympics after testing positive for cannabis last year. The move ignited conversations around the globe; of course, rules are rules, though many called into question why those rules are in place to begin with, begging the question, is cannabis even performance enhancing?
While cannabis is often used for athletic recovery, a 2018 study published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine found “there is no direct evidence of performance-enhancing effects in athletes,” though authors note that the potential benefits of cannabis as a pain-management protocol should be further investigated.
Though, with changing attitudes around cannabis, the Olympic stance appears to be softening over time. In a 2021 interview with NPR, Dr. Michael Joyner nodded to the data, saying that cannabis “certainly” won’t help people to sprint fast or throw a shot put farther, claiming there is rationale for some substances with sedative qualities, like cannabis, to be allowed for some sports.
“But the list is a blanket list,” Joyner said. “So, if it’s banned in one sport, it’s banned in everything. And then I think when the list emerged – as the list emerged in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and later on, people wanted to, you know, ban what they saw at the time as drugs of abuse.”
