Kazuto Ioka has been cleared by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), after an 18 May Report from its independent Ethics Committee found that it was impossible to determine the presence of prohibited substances in his sample. In late April, reports emerged that the four weight world champion had returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for cannabis after his 31 December title defence against Kosei Tanaka.

Use and possession of cannabis are both illegal in Japan, and is punishable through fines and imprisonment of up to five years. Ioka denies ever using the substance. It appears that the information and sample management procedures of the JBC were to blame.

‘I sincerely apologise to Ioka and everybody concerned for the fact information was leaked, and some reports gave the impression that Ioka had used prohibited substances’, read a statement. ‘We will investigate the cause of this information leak. In addition, in the Report we received some suggestions regarding doping tests and sample management. JBC will reflect on this point ad will reform its doping test system in line with the recommendations. 

‘Due to the JBC’s anti-doping system and information management, Ioka and other related parties, his opponent Tanaka and related parties, as well as boxing fans and officials have been greatly inconvenienced. We apologise for this inconvenience.’