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Asian Games chit-chat: Japanese swimmer sent home for stealing camera

September 27, 2014

Swimmer Naoya Tomita. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

A Japanese athlete at the Asian Games has been charged by police after admitting to stealing a camera from a South Korean journalist, police said on Saturday.

The Japanese Olympic Committee said in a statement the athlete was swimmer Naoya Tomita, a gold medallist from Guangzhou in 2010 but who finished out of the medals in Incheon.

Incheon police told Reuters the athlete had been booked without detention and barred from leaving the country.

"After we received a report, we analysed CCTV and could see that it was a Japanese athlete, but to confirm it we went to see the Japanese team leader and showed him the clip," police told Reuters.

Police located the athlete cheering on his teammates at a venue and spoke to him in a private interview.

"He admitted it right away," police said.

"The case will be dealt by the prosecutor's office next week."

An Asian Games official said the Japanese delegation would expel Tomita from the team and planned to send him home immediately.

The swimming events the Asian Games wrapped up on Friday.

AFC says looking into match-fixing allegations

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is looking into reports of possible match-fixing at the Incheon Asian Games, the continental governing body said on Saturday.

An official of the betting-related data provider Sportradar recently told a Singapore newspaper about possible match-fixing in Incheon without revealing which teams were involved.

"Following recent reports of possible match manipulation at the Incheon Asian Games 2014 football competition, the AFC would like to confirm that we are closely monitoring the situation," the AFC said in a statement.

The soccer body said it was collaborating with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which organises Asian Games, to look into the matter.

"We are also working hand in hand with Sportradar to thoroughly review the provided information on suspicious betting patterns.

Match-fixing is rampant in Asia with cases being reported across the continent, including recent scandals in Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia.

"The AFC is determined to eradicate match fixing in Asia and we will ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of our goal," the Kuala Lumpur-based body said.

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