BEIJING - A Taiwanese baseball player has been banned from participating in the team's first Olympic game after failing a drug test.
Taiwan Baseball Association Secretary-General Lin Tsung-cheng said third baseman Chang Tai-shan did not suit up for Wednesday's opener against the Netherlands after the International Olympic Committee informed the association of the test results.
"The IBAF has been advised of a possible anti-doping rule violation by a player from the Chinese Taipei team," the International Baseball Federation said in a statement. "As a result the player Tai-Shan Chang has been provisionally suspended pending the analysis of the B sample and a formal hearing."
Taiwan is one of eight baseball teams participating in the Beijing Games. The sport is widely popular on the island and millions of fans follow the team.
