Asian Games: Joseph Schooling, two others warned over drinking incident
[STORY UPDATED: 29/10/2014 AT 6:07 PM: Joseph Schooling, Teo Zhen Ren and Roanne Ho have been issued a warning by the SNOC]
The three Team Singapore swimmers who allegedly returned drunk to the Asian Games athletes village have received a warning from the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), reported The Straits Times.
The Council released an e-mail statement stating that a panel had investigated the incident and concluded that Joseph Schooling, Teo Zhen Ren and Roanne Ho had "infringed the Code of Conduct for Athletes and Officials at Major Games" when they left the village without permission.
The three athletes had been named in a TODAY report, which said they left the village at the Asian Games without permission and went drinking after the swimming events had concluded the night before.
Athletes' Village officials confirmed to Yahoo Singapore that an incident occurred, and that a report has been filed over three athletes returning drunk, but did not identify the athletes’ country or sport.
The three alleged swimmers in question refrained from comment when contacted by Yahoo Singapore. Other Singapore athletes contacted also kept mum about the incident.
Conflicting reports about the state in which the three swimmers returned to the village have emerged. TODAY said sources told them the swimmers did not appear drunk upon their return but The Straits Times earlier reported at least two of them were “heavily intoxicated” and needed assistance from village security personnel to escort them back to the housing area for Singapore athletes.
Team Singapore’s chef-de-mission, Jessie Phua, said the incident will be investigated after the Games.
“It has been brought to our attention that three athletes returned to the Athletes’ Village in the early hours of 27 September. We will investigate further after the Games. We have reminded all remaining athletes and officials to be responsible for their actions and to keep the team managers updated of their movements,” said Phua.
Schooling won Singapore’s first Asian Games male swimming gold medal in 32 years in the 100m butterfly in a new Games record, and he also took home silver and bronze in the 50m and 200m butterfly. The 19-year-old from the University of Texas stands to earn S$350,000 under the MAP awards incentive scheme.
Roanne Ho competed in the 50m breaststroke final and finished seventh out of eight, while Teo Zhen Ren took part in the 1,500m freestyle and finished 12th out of 14.
The Games end this Sunday.
