MONACO — Koki Ikeda, a race walker from Japan and a silver medalist at the Olympics, is facing a provisional suspension due to allegations of blood doping, as announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday.

Ikeda earned his silver medal in the 20-kilometer race walk during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and recently finished in seventh place at the Paris Olympics just three months prior to this announcement.

The 26-year-old athlete was informed of the charges stemming from questionable data observed in his biological passport. This passport serves to track various biological markers that may indicate doping practices over time, even if the athlete has not tested positive for any prohibited substances.

The AIU did not mention a specific timeline for the investigation or the resolution of the disciplinary process.

Additionally, Ikeda claimed another silver medal at the world championships held in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022, marking a significant achievement in his career.