Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Thursday announced the suspension of defender Kazuhiko Chiba after the player failed a doping test administered by the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA).

The test, administered on September 25, was positive for methylhexamine, a dietary supplement that has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a performance-enhancing substance.

Chiba has been provisionally suspended from participating in all club activities, including training, matches, and other official events. 

He has denied intentionally consuming the drug and requested a hearing as well as a re-test of his samples, according to club officials.

“We have diligently attempted to comply with anti-doping regulations and deeply apologize for the trouble caused by one of our players being named in this report,” Sanfrecce said in a statement. 

“We intend to cooperate fully with JADA in order to clarify the facts of this case.”