Japan Volleyball Association introduces urine testing after player’s cannabis arrest
The governing body has apologised and announced new drug screening protocols following the arrest of a 26-year-old former representative for possession of cannabis.
The Japan Volleyball Association has apologised and announced the implementation of urine testing protocols following the arrest of Shunichiro Sato, a 26-year-old former player for the Japanese men’s national volleyball team. The governing body issued the statement on May 28, 2026, at 19:15, shortly after Sato was taken into custody.
Sato was arrested at 15:22 on the same day at a pachinko parlour in Tokyo on suspicion of possessing cannabis. Possession of the substance is a criminal offence in Japan. According to reports from NHK, Sato told investigators that he had received the drug from an acquaintance in Nagoya earlier in the month.
The arrest has prompted an immediate institutional response from the Japan Volleyball Association. In its statement, the association apologised for the incident and confirmed that it would introduce urine testing as part of its regulatory measures. The move signals a shift in how the organisation approaches compliance and governance within the sport.
Details regarding the specific quantity of cannabis involved in the arrest have not been disclosed. Furthermore, while Sato is identified as a former national team player, the association has not clarified his current status with any domestic clubs or his exact timeline of retirement from international competition.
The identity of the acquaintance in Nagoya mentioned by Sato has not been confirmed or named by authorities. The investigation remains ongoing as the Japan Volleyball Association implements its new testing framework.
