[Exclusive] Sejong City Boxer Park Taerang Faces Risk of Losing Gold Medal Over Doping Allegations

Park Taerang's Gold Medal at Risk
Doping Symptoms Detected, Substance Still Unknown
Trainer Kim Jungwan: "Park's Passion and Skill Are Genuine"

Sejong City boxer Park Taerang, gold medalist in boxing at the 54th National Youth Sports Festival, faces disqualification due to doping symptoms. Photo by Kim Giwan, Chungcheong Reporting Headquarters

Park Taerang, a boxer from Sejong City who brought home the first gold medal in boxing since the city was established, is now at risk of being stripped of his medal. This is due to doping symptoms detected in a urine test conducted by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

According to the local boxing community on August 11, Park Taerang, who competed in the welterweight division at the 54th National Youth Sports Festival held in May, became the first athlete from Sejong City to win a gold medal in boxing since the city’s founding.

Park secured victory in the finals by unanimous decision from the judges. It has been reported that drug-related symptoms were detected in the urine test conducted at the time. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee’s anti-doping commission has been investigating the matter and recently completed the hearing process.

Concerns have been raised because, while traces of a substance were found, the specific drug has not been identified. This has led to worries that the athlete’s efforts to win a gold medal may have been in vain. Park’s camp maintains that they have no knowledge of any drug use. With doping symptoms detected, attention is now focused on whether Park will be able to keep his gold medal.

Kim Jungwan, Park’s trainer and former professional boxing champion, said, “We have submitted every possible document we could. If doping symptoms have appeared, we need to know exactly what substance was detected, but the anti-doping commission has not informed us, so we have no way of knowing. Park Taerang is a 16-year-old middle school student whose passion for boxing surpasses that of any other athlete. He has never even considered taking drugs to compete and win a medal, nor does he have any reason to do so. I don’t know what went wrong or how, but Park’s skill speaks for itself.”

He added, “Regardless of the anti-doping commission’s future decision, Park is already in shock and feels betrayed after all his hard work. Still, we are doing our best to help him focus solely on his training.”

Meanwhile, Park has been a leading figure in the local boxing community, energizing the amateur boxing scene by winning gold medals in numerous competitions, including the Korean Boxing Association President’s Cup, with his relentless infighting style.