Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan has apologized and asked for forgiveness over the doping incident that cost him an 18-month suspension.
 
The 26-year-old held a news conference in Seoul Friday and gave his official response to the latest events.
 
Park said he was unspeakably sorry to greet the public over a disgraceful incident and extended his sincere apology to the Korean public who he said has always supported him.
 
The International Swimming Federation, FINA, on Monday handed down the 18-month suspension to Park after he tested positive for testosterone, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, last September. 
 
The suspension will begin retroactively on September 3, the day his urine sample was collected, and will end on March 2, next year. 
 
Park has also been stripped of one silver and three bronze medals that he won at the Incheon Asian Games last year.