Naha, Iwakuni, and Sapporo. Spent some time in Tokyo and Osaka. Mind you, I have not lived there since deep in a previous millennium.
Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
Re: Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
Re: Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
What, covered in tattoos and possessing marijuana ?!
Re: Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
Kazuto Ioka demands apology from Japanese Boxing Commission following botched drug test
WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka 26-2 (15) has called on the Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC) to take responsibility for the drug testing debacle that almost ruined his career.
Earlier this year the JBC informed police that marijuana was detected in Ioka’s urine sample and the story was quickly fed to the tabloid media. Ioka, Japan’s first four-division world champion, said the situation left him suffering from anxiety and insomnia.
“The amount (detected) wasn’t illegal and it wasn’t a doping offense,” the 32-year-old from Tokyo told the Kyodo News in a recent interview.
“Nevertheless, it was reported to the police, incorrect information was spread by the media as facts, causing misunderstanding that resulted in my being slandered.”
The timing of the incident could not have been worse. Ioka was flying high after his eighth-round knockout of previously undefeated Kosei Tanaka 15-1 (9) at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve.
The JBC later cleared Ioka of any wrongdoing, but the damage was already done.
“My life nearly ended. I want (the JBC) to take responsibility for that, even if it’s doing the bare minimum,” Ioka said.
“I need a guarantee that they will do what they can to provide boxers with the environment to focus on the sport.”
Ioka says he is yet to receive an apology from the JBC for the doping allegations, which he considers a slur on his character.
“It’s good that I was able to clear my name (from allegations of doping), but I still feel uneasy about the fact that I never got a direct apology from the JBC,” he said.
“I experienced anxiety for the first time in my life… I was really stressed because I couldn’t reconcile the contradiction between my knowing that I am innocent and what was happening in the outside world.
“I feel extreme fatigue and have dreams in which I am being chased by something.”
Ioka, who has held versions of the world title at 105, 108, 112 and now 115 pounds, wants his experience to bring about change in the boxing industry in Japan.
“If you look on the bright side, all this can help make me mentally stronger,” Ioka said. “It could open the door to a new era and I’d like to think that in order for it to make sense, I have to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to any other boxer.”
Although the situation clearly still rankles Ioka, his greatest desire is to return to the ring and continue being a role model for young people everywhere.
“I want people to think I’m one of a kind, I want to achieve things that only I can achieve,” he said. “I want to be up for any challenge and stay hungry. I want to prove that I can become even stronger.”
WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka 26-2 (15) has called on the Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC) to take responsibility for the drug testing debacle that almost ruined his career.
Earlier this year the JBC informed police that marijuana was detected in Ioka’s urine sample and the story was quickly fed to the tabloid media. Ioka, Japan’s first four-division world champion, said the situation left him suffering from anxiety and insomnia.
“The amount (detected) wasn’t illegal and it wasn’t a doping offense,” the 32-year-old from Tokyo told the Kyodo News in a recent interview.
“Nevertheless, it was reported to the police, incorrect information was spread by the media as facts, causing misunderstanding that resulted in my being slandered.”
The timing of the incident could not have been worse. Ioka was flying high after his eighth-round knockout of previously undefeated Kosei Tanaka 15-1 (9) at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve.
The JBC later cleared Ioka of any wrongdoing, but the damage was already done.
“My life nearly ended. I want (the JBC) to take responsibility for that, even if it’s doing the bare minimum,” Ioka said.
“I need a guarantee that they will do what they can to provide boxers with the environment to focus on the sport.”
Ioka says he is yet to receive an apology from the JBC for the doping allegations, which he considers a slur on his character.
“It’s good that I was able to clear my name (from allegations of doping), but I still feel uneasy about the fact that I never got a direct apology from the JBC,” he said.
“I experienced anxiety for the first time in my life… I was really stressed because I couldn’t reconcile the contradiction between my knowing that I am innocent and what was happening in the outside world.
“I feel extreme fatigue and have dreams in which I am being chased by something.”
Ioka, who has held versions of the world title at 105, 108, 112 and now 115 pounds, wants his experience to bring about change in the boxing industry in Japan.
“If you look on the bright side, all this can help make me mentally stronger,” Ioka said. “It could open the door to a new era and I’d like to think that in order for it to make sense, I have to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to any other boxer.”
Although the situation clearly still rankles Ioka, his greatest desire is to return to the ring and continue being a role model for young people everywhere.
“I want people to think I’m one of a kind, I want to achieve things that only I can achieve,” he said. “I want to be up for any challenge and stay hungry. I want to prove that I can become even stronger.”
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 101087
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Re: Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo
Kazuto Ioka discusses recent police investigation, livid with Japanese Boxing Commission
The morning of April 6 started like any other for Kazuto Ioka. The WBO junior bantamweight titleholder had enjoyed breakfast with his wife and young son and was about to head to the gym for a morning workout.
Suddenly and without warning there was a knock at the door that had huge ramifications for him and his family.
“At first, neither I nor my wife could figure out what happened or what it was all about,” Ioka told The Ring. “My wife was very scared and frightened as she was surrounded by nearly 10 police officers at the lobby of our condominium.
“When I heard her call for me, I went to the entrance and saw there were many police officers, so I was very shocked. A police officer told me that a cannabis component was detected in the results of a prior doping test [after the Kosei Tanaka win in December] and told me they had a search warrant to investigate our home.”
Ioka, who is rated No. 3 by The Ring at 115 pounds, was taken aback.
“From the moment all this was happening, I was firmly convinced and believed I was innocent,” said the four-weight world titleholder. “But because this was my first experience with the police, I followed their instructions.
“I was interrogated for five-six hours. I also voluntarily took a urine test during this time. From the beginning of the search warrant to the end of the interrogation, I was treated like a criminal by the police.”
Ioka is particularly disappointed in the way things were handled by the habitually efficient JBC (Japan Boxing Commission), who didn’t look to help him.
“I cannot forgive Japan Boxing Commission’s mishandling and seemingly maliciousness actions towards me,” said a clearly disgruntled Ioka. “I felt as though they ended my fighting career, my family’s [life] and my life.”
While Ioka has since been exonerated, he hasn’t received a formal apology from the JBC and the whole incident has left a lasting effect on him and his family.
“My innocence was proven, but the damage done to my family and I [has] not healed,” he said. “We are deeply hurting. Also, my fans and the public are very skeptical of me and still question my integrity.
“JBC has published an apology on their website. It feels strange to receive an apology in writing in regard to this. I have not received a direct personal apology at this time. My soul and body feel weakened.”
The 32-year-old Ioka, who is tabbed to face mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr. in the coming months, is adamant that changes need to be implanted inside the JBC: “To prevent this from happening to any fighter, I would like to see a reorganization of the entire JBC organization.”
The pound-for-pound star’s management group, TLAROCK Entertainment, are steadfast in their support of Ioka and put forth several issues that must be addressed.
“We would like them to restore his honor in good faith,” said Yusuke Ninomiya of TLAROCK Entertainment. “We have sent a written request to the JBC executive members to recognize the responsibilities of the JBC to reform the organization: Pursue and clarify the cause of personal information leaked to the media; establish Doping Regulations by complying with the international standards; make a sincere apology to Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka. We seek for JBC to take measures to re-establish the honor and names of both fighters.”
The morning of April 6 started like any other for Kazuto Ioka. The WBO junior bantamweight titleholder had enjoyed breakfast with his wife and young son and was about to head to the gym for a morning workout.
Suddenly and without warning there was a knock at the door that had huge ramifications for him and his family.
“At first, neither I nor my wife could figure out what happened or what it was all about,” Ioka told The Ring. “My wife was very scared and frightened as she was surrounded by nearly 10 police officers at the lobby of our condominium.
“When I heard her call for me, I went to the entrance and saw there were many police officers, so I was very shocked. A police officer told me that a cannabis component was detected in the results of a prior doping test [after the Kosei Tanaka win in December] and told me they had a search warrant to investigate our home.”
Ioka, who is rated No. 3 by The Ring at 115 pounds, was taken aback.
“From the moment all this was happening, I was firmly convinced and believed I was innocent,” said the four-weight world titleholder. “But because this was my first experience with the police, I followed their instructions.
“I was interrogated for five-six hours. I also voluntarily took a urine test during this time. From the beginning of the search warrant to the end of the interrogation, I was treated like a criminal by the police.”
Ioka is particularly disappointed in the way things were handled by the habitually efficient JBC (Japan Boxing Commission), who didn’t look to help him.
“I cannot forgive Japan Boxing Commission’s mishandling and seemingly maliciousness actions towards me,” said a clearly disgruntled Ioka. “I felt as though they ended my fighting career, my family’s [life] and my life.”
While Ioka has since been exonerated, he hasn’t received a formal apology from the JBC and the whole incident has left a lasting effect on him and his family.
“My innocence was proven, but the damage done to my family and I [has] not healed,” he said. “We are deeply hurting. Also, my fans and the public are very skeptical of me and still question my integrity.
“JBC has published an apology on their website. It feels strange to receive an apology in writing in regard to this. I have not received a direct personal apology at this time. My soul and body feel weakened.”
The 32-year-old Ioka, who is tabbed to face mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr. in the coming months, is adamant that changes need to be implanted inside the JBC: “To prevent this from happening to any fighter, I would like to see a reorganization of the entire JBC organization.”
The pound-for-pound star’s management group, TLAROCK Entertainment, are steadfast in their support of Ioka and put forth several issues that must be addressed.
“We would like them to restore his honor in good faith,” said Yusuke Ninomiya of TLAROCK Entertainment. “We have sent a written request to the JBC executive members to recognize the responsibilities of the JBC to reform the organization: Pursue and clarify the cause of personal information leaked to the media; establish Doping Regulations by complying with the international standards; make a sincere apology to Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka. We seek for JBC to take measures to re-establish the honor and names of both fighters.”