"That's a crazy reason";"She wasn't even smoking in Japan"-Fans react to reports of Miyata Shoko being dropped from Paris Olympics team

Miyata Shoko, the leader of the Japanese women's gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics, is leaving France because of smoking allegations. Her case is being investigated by the Japan Gymnastics Association, leading to her absence from the Monaco training camp. Officials stated that she would reportedly miss the Olympics, and the news has left gymnastics fans in shock.

Miyata Shoko, the 2022 World Championships balance beam bronze medalist, bagged three medals each at the Asian Championships and the World University Games. Coming into the Olympic season in 2024, the 19-year-old hurt her left groin en route to the 2024 NHK Trophy.

Despite the hardship, she amassed a total of 217.162 points to earn the Paris Olympic qualification, her debut Olympiad. She was set to lead the team of Olympic debutants but reportedly violated the conduct code by smoking. JGA's head of development, Hikaru Tanaka, said that Miyata Shoko was missing from the Monaco practice 'for certain reasons', but didn't provide further details.

An X fan page expressed disappointment over Shoko's exit, saying that it was the last thing they expected.

"Miyata Shoko getting kicked off the team for smoking was absolutely the last thing on my bingo card"

Another fan was not happy with the ban but felt the decision was fair if that's what the governing body required. They also queried whether the athletes were informed about the rules beforehand.

"That’s a crazy reason to take someone off of the team but I guess they’re entitled to enforce their rules as they see fit & if the rules were clear to the athletes, then it is what it is. If these rules weren’t clear to the athletes, it’s unfair."

One fan clarified that the athlete wasn't smoking in Japan, so that shouldn't be the reason to oust Miyata Shoko.

"This is f**king stupid. She wasn't even smoking in Japan. She's in Monaco."

Here are some other reactions:

"So sad, I became a fan of her during the 2022 world championships," a fan tweeted.

"Was she smoking in Mexico? Bet it's legal for a 19-year-old to smoke there," a fan commented.

"if it was a paris rule, almost no one mag gymnast could be in paris lol," tweeted a fan.

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Miyata Shoko exuded confidence en route to the Paris Olympics

The Japanese women's squad has been looking to claim an Olympic medal since the 1964 Olympic Games. With new talents in the squad, the team had a fair chance to achieve it in Paris. However, Shoko's forced withdrawal has dealt a blow to the other qualifiers.

Miyata Shoko was confident of bringing her A-game to Paris this year, as per her words after the all-around title at the 2024 NHK Trophy.

"I wanted to finish the day with a better performance but will have to save that for Paris. I’ve had good years and bad years in my life but I hope to make this year a good one," she said (via Olympics.com).

The other members of the squad viz. Kishi Rina, Okamura Mana, Ushioku Kohane and Nakamura Haruka will head to Paris as Japan's teen squad.