Japanese Swimmer Naoya Tomita Suspended 17 Months After Stealing Camera At Asian Games

Photo by Delly Carr

TOKYO, Japan, October 8. JAPANESE breaststroker Naoya Tomita will sit out 17 months from competition, a sentence handed down by the Japanese swimming federation as a result of Tomita stealing a professional photographer’s camera from the pool deck at the Asian Games.

Tomita, the 2010 short course world champion and Asian Games champion in the 200 breaststroke, will not be able to compete until April 1, 2016. He will miss the opportunity to race for a spot at next year’s long course world championships. But the suspension falls short of keeping him out of the 2016 Japanese Olympic Trials, which are scheduled for April 16.

According to an article in Yahoo! Japan, the swimming federation board of directors had considered slapping Tomita with a permanent ban. But the federation took the one million won (approximately US$1,000) fine levied on him by Japanese courts into consideration when announcing the 17-month suspension.

Tomita finished fourth in the 100 breast at this year’s Asian Games before the camera stealing incident had him removed from the team. He also competed at the Pan Pacific championships, finishing ninth in the 200 breast and seventh in the 100 breast.

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Gustavo Flores

9 years ago

Did he return the camara?
I’m just wandering.

Jason Marsteller

9 years ago

Reply to Gustavo Flores

Yes, Gustavo. He was caught on camera taking the camera.