Chika Shigesada will compete in the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
15:15 JST, August 24, 2024
PARIS — Paralympic archer Chika Shigesada has voluntarily withdrawn from the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris after it emerged she anonymously defamed another athlete online, the Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC) announced Friday.
Shigasada, 41, was ordered by the Tokyo District Court on Aug. 6 to pay about ¥1.2 million in damages to the other athlete, who filed a lawsuit over the posting on an online blog. The court ruled that the posting constituted defamation.
Shigesada’s legal team appealed the ruling but later withdrew it.
The JPC has reviewed the court ruling and questioned Shigesada to determine whether her action violated rules for athletes sent to major international competitions.
On Thursday, Shigesada submitted documentation to the JPC indicating her withdrawal from the Paralympic Games, which the JPC approved.
“Defamation or slander cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” said JPC President Kazuyuki Mori. “To prevent recurrence, we will take measures to further enhance integrity in sports.”
The Paralympic Games in Paris start on Wednesday.
