The international swimming federation, FINA, has suspended South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan for 18 months for an anti-doping violation.
 
The federation made the ruling hours after a hearing in which Park clarified his position that he unintentionally took banned substances. Park attended the hearing on Monday in Lausanne, Switzerland where the FINA secretariat is located.
 
The suspension will end prior to the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, allowing the swimmer the option to compete in the games.
 
Park was summoned to appear for the hearing after testing positive for the banned substance testosterone last September just before the Incheon Asian Games.