Singapore’s Olympic golden boy Joseph Schooling admits to cannabis use, has ‘disruption privileges’ revoked by military

Admitting to consuming cannabis earlier this year means the Olympic medallist loses his disruption privileges while serving mandatory military service
Singapore insists cannabis serves as a gateway drug to more harmful substances, and people caught trafficking large quantities may face the death penalty

Singapore

SCMP’s Asia desk

Published: 10:35pm, 30 Aug 2022

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Singapore’s military on Tuesday said the country’s Olympic golden boy Joseph Schooling, currently serving mandatory military service, admitted to consuming cannabis earlier this year.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) said the 27-year-old’s abuse of “disruption privileges” granted to him while in active service meant he would “no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete” while still a conscript.

The national daily The Straits Times said the latest development meant the swimmer was unlikely to participate in next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia as well as the Asian Games in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Schooling has national hero status in the island republic after his stunning victory in the men’s 100m butterfly 2016 Olympics over his childhood hero Michael Phelps. He remains the country’s sole Olympic gold medalist.

He began serving mandatory national service in January this year, after receiving official deferment from 2014 to 2021 on account of his sporting talent.

Adult male citizens of Singapore are expected to serve between 22 to 24 months in active duty.

Joseph Schooling will no longer be eligible to apply for leave ‘to train or compete’ while serving his national service. File photo: EPA-EFE

In a statement, the SAF said Schooling “confessed to have consumed cannabis overseas in May 2022, when he was on short term disruption from full-time National Service (NS) to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games”.

He had earlier tested negative during drug tests.

Apart from the revocation of his disruption privileges, Schooling was also served a formal letter of warning “informing him of the serious consequences of drug abuse meted out to all SAF personnel, who may be sentenced up to nine months detention in the SAF Detention Barracks.”

Schooling will be subject to a supervised urine test regime for six months.

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“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 in a statement reported by local media.

“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,” he added.

“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.”

Sport Singapore, a government agency tasked with advancing the country’s sporting scene, said in a separate statement that Schooling and another swimmer, 29-year-old Amanda Lim, had been investigated by the anti-narcotics agency.

Lim was issued a stern warning by the Central Narcotics Bureau, Sport Singapore said.

Schooling, who was feted with a victory parade attended by thousands of people following his 2016 win, had earlier this year suggested he was thinking of retiring from swimming.

Apart from his Olympic gold medal, he has won 27 golds at the SEA Games as well as three Asian Games golds.

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While the likes of Thailand have significantly eased its policies on the use of marijuana or cannabis – Singapore has stoutly defended its zero-tolerance approach to the drug.

The city state’s authorities insist that cannabis usage serves as a gateway to the abuse of other more harmful substances such as heroin and cocaine.

Drug offenders face severe punishments in the country. Those found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of pure heroin, 250g of methamphetamine or 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.