Olympic Medalist Tomoru Honda Faces Legal Expenses, Out Of Pan Pacs & Asian Games

24-year-old Olympic silver medalist Tomoru Honda of Japan will not be racing on the Pan Pacific Championships or the Asian Games on account of being concerned in a felony driving offense.

Honda was indicted for violating the Act on Punishment of Offenses Relating to Driving, a situation that usually includes harmful driving inflicting harm. (Chunichi Sports)

The incident reportedly befell in November of 2025, but was not delivered to the Japanese Swimming Federation (JASF) till final month.

The JASF launched a complete assertion on its official web site on Friday, August seventh, writing, “We wish to specific our honest gratitude to your continued understanding and assist of our federation’s actions.

“We wish to inform you that Mr. Tomoru Honda, a member of the Japanese nationwide swimming workforce of our federation, was indicted on costs of harmful driving inflicting harm after inflicting a visitors accident whereas driving her non-public car, and that this matter was reported to our federation a substantial time after the incident and the indictment.

“First and foremost, I wish to specific my deepest sympathies to the injured victims and sincerely apologize to all these concerned for the good concern and inconvenience brought on.

“Furthermore, we take very significantly the delay in changing into conscious of and reporting this matter, as we’re a public curiosity company that has a duty to be accountable to society, and we sincerely apologize.

“Upon receiving a report on this matter, our federation instantly confirmed the info and has since held cautious discussions and deliberations. As a outcome, in gentle of the seriousness of this matter, we now have decided that it’s not acceptable for Mr. Honda to proceed his actions as a consultant athlete representing Japan in worldwide multi-sport competitions. After consulting with Mr. Honda herself, we now have determined to withdraw him from the Pan Pacific Championships and the twentieth Asian Games.

“Please be aware that we are going to chorus from disclosing particulars of this case out of consideration for the safety of the sufferer’s privateness and the procedures of the related authorities. We will inform you once more if any issues that must be disclosed turn into obvious sooner or later. We admire your understanding.

“As a public interest corporation that should earn the trust of society through sports, our federation takes this matter very seriously. Moving forward, we will proceed with the necessary procedures, including deliberations by our Ethics Committee, and further strengthen compliance education for athletes and coaches to prevent recurrence and restore trust. We also strongly expect Mr. Honda to take this matter seriously, to respond sincerely to the victim, and to work diligently to restore trust from society.”

Honda took to social media as properly, posting on Instagram, “First and foremost, I wish to specific my deepest sympathies and apologies to the sufferer who was injured within the incident I brought on, in addition to to their household. I additionally supply my profound apologies to everybody who has supported me—together with my sponsors and all different related events—for the good concern and bother I’ve brought on.

“Furthermore, I deeply remorse the numerous delay in reporting the incident and my subsequent indictment to my employer and the Japan Swimming Federation; this delay resulted in additional bother and concern for the many individuals concerned. Consequently, I’ve determined to withdraw from competing in meets and collaborating in nationwide coaching camps in the meanwhile.

“I’m deeply sorry for my inconsiderate actions, which inflicted sudden, intense concern upon the sufferer, disrupting their peaceable each day life, and brought on bodily harm and struggling. Moving ahead, I’ll prioritize appearing sincerely towards the sufferer and earnestly mirror on my duty.

“I am committed to re-examining my conduct and striving to act responsibly in every aspect, in hopes of regaining even a measure of the public’s trust. Please understand that, as criminal proceedings are currently underway, I must refrain from commenting on the specific details of the incident. I offer my sincerest apologies. August 7, 2026 — Tomoru Honda.”

Honda gained gold within the males’s 200m butterfly on the 2024 World Championships and earned silver within the occasion on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He is the reigning brief course meters 200 butterfly world report holder and a three-time Asian Games medalist.

He isn’t the primary man to be booted off the Pan Pacific Championships and Asian Games squad. We reported this previous May how 24-year-old Riku Matsuyama was withdrawn from the competitions, with the backstroker being present in violation of ethics guidelines.

Toshiaki Kurasawa, Acting Swimming Committee Chairman throughout the JASF, stated on the time about Matsuyama, “During the primary coaching camp in March, there was an act that violated the code of conduct.

“I will refrain from giving details for the sake of his reputation, but we take the matter very seriously.”