THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) UPHOLDS APPEAL BY KOKI IKEDA (JAPAN)
Lausanne, 23 October 2026 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld an appeal by Japanese race walker Koki Ikeda against World Athletics (WA). CAS rules that Mr Ikeda did not commit an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and shall be reinstated to sports participation with immediate effect.
Koki Ikeda is an internationally recognised Japanese race walker and silver Olympic medallist.
In June 2024, WA alleged that Mr Ikeda committed a violation of Rule 2.2 of the WA Anti-Doping Rules (WA ADR) based on abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), which would indicate blood manipulation. He was charged with a provisional suspension in November 2024, which the Athlete challenged. In February 2025, the WA Disciplinary Tribunal decided that Mr Ikeda had committed a violation of the WA ADR and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility.
Mr Ikeda filed an appeal to CAS in March 2025, rejecting the doping scenario presented by WA. He requested that CAS set aside the WA Disciplinary Tribunal decision, with no period of ineligibility imposed.
The Parties exchanged written submissions and agreed to schedule an in-person hearing on 11 and 12 May 2026 at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The CAS Panel assessed the submissions, expert opinions and evidence put forward by the Parties. It was undisputed that sample values in Mr Ikeda’s ABP were abnormal, however the Panel found that the alternative physiological scenario brought by Mr Ikeda was plausible. The Panel were satisfied that the Athlete established several factors to explain the abnormalities, which include personal medical conditions.
The Panel stressed that the Athlete did not merely assert his position on the ABP abnormalities but adduced very extensive evidence in support of his explanations. In this highly complex case, the evidence brought during the CAS proceedings was far more abundant and specific than during the first instance proceedings with the WA Disciplinary Tribunal, implying the CAS Panel had further elements of assessment.
In conclusion, the appeal filed by Mr Ikeda is upheld and the WA Disciplinary Tribunal decision is set aside. Mr Ikeda did not commit a violation of WA ADR and consequently, no period of ineligibility shall be imposed.
This is an unofficial summary for media use. Unless Parties request confidentiality, the full CAS Award will be made available on the CAS website. For legal purposes, only the wording used in the written decision is binding.
For further information related to CAS activity and procedures, please contact the press office at
Palais de Beaulieu, av. Bergière 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland