Park hit with 18-month ban

South Korean superstar flunked doping test

Former Olympic champion Park Tae-hwan of South Korea has been banned 18 months for doping after testing positive for testosterone in an out-of-competition drug test, the latest in a series of high-profile doping cases in swimming.

The ban, ordered on Monday, will begin retroactively the day of the positive test in early September and expire March 2, 2016 - putting Park's participation at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in doubt. It also keeps him out of this year's world championships in Kazan, Russia.