November 2, 2024
Asahi Kasei Corp.

Koki Ikeda, member of Asahi Kasei's athletic team, has had a provisional suspension of his eligibility imposed on him by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics based on the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. Ikeda plans to appeal to the AIU to lift the provisional suspension, and to avow and affirm to the Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU that he has not violated any rules.

Having discussed this matter with Ikeda and sought the opinion of independent experts, Asahi Kasei firmly believes that Ikeda has not violated any anti-doping rules, and the company will do all that it can to help prove his innocence and have the provisional suspension lifted as soon as possible.

1. Timeline

June 28, 2024
Ikeda is notified by the AIU that they suspect blood doping* based on blood tests performed by the AIU from June to August 2023, and that they invite Ikeda to provide an explanation for the abnormalities detected in such tests before a certain deadline, etc.

• *A procedure of drawing one's own blood and storing it, then performing autologous transfusion prior to competing for the purpose of raising performance by increasing red blood cell count.

July 24, 2024
Ikeda submits a written explanation to the AIU.

November 1, 2024
Ikeda receives Notice of Charge under World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules from the AIU, indicating that they have imposed a provisional suspension of his eligibility to participate in competitions until the matter is fully resolved.

2. Regarding the alleged blood doping

No Prohibited Substances on the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency have been detected in Ikeda's body.

The AIU regularly performs blood testing of a small portion of athletes who compete internationally, including Ikeda, to measure hemoglobin values, etc., in order to detect blood doping. Past test results for each athlete are recorded, and when any test result fluctuates beyond a certain limit set individually based on such record, and if it is thought to have been caused by the use of prohibited substances or methods, the athlete is notified and requested to explain how it is not a violation of anti-doping rules. The notification to Ikeda was based on his blood test results from June 2023 indicating hemoglobin values etc. exceeding the limit.

After receiving the notification in June, Ikeda collected information related to his living habits, training regimen, and physical condition, as well as his blood test data kept by the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, and requested the assistance of sports medicine physicians who are deeply versed in the field of anti-doping, and other specialist medical researchers.

The opinion of these experts is that Ikeda's hemoglobin value fluctuation was caused by his training, living environment, physical condition, and side-effects of prescribed medication* which resulted in intravascular hemolysis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and was not due to blood doping. Said experts submitted written statements to the AIU describing their opinion.

• *Not including any substance on the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

3. Further steps

Denying any rule violation, Ikeda will appeal to the AIU to lift the provisional suspension and request a hearing by the Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU.

4. Position of Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei adamantly opposes doping in sports, and fully supports the philosophy and activities of the AIU and numerous other international and domestic organizations to eliminate it. That said, based on discussions with Ikeda and having received the opinion of medical experts, as described above, the company firmly believes that Ikeda has not violated any anti-doping rules. Asahi Kasei will therefore fully support Ikeda in his effort to prove his innocence. Moving forward, as a company that has fostered many Olympians, Asahi Kasei hopes to discuss with various related parties the best way to ensure the integrity of sport by prohibiting doping while allowing clean athletes to justly compete.

5. Comment from Koki Ikeda

I was completely astounded to be told that I might be unable to compete due to something that I absolutely did not do. I am truly grateful to all the people who are supporting my effort to prove my innocence. I am eager for the truth to be confirmed and a fair judgment to be reached.

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