Dragons’ Clark accused of drug law violations


Police sent papers to prosecutors on Friday, charging new Chunichi Dragons infielder Matt Clark of possibly violating stimulant control laws after an illegal stimulant was detected in medication he had been using to treat a chronic illness.

Clark, 26, is accused of possession and use of an illegal substance, but due in part to the fact that he came forward to police on his own accord and the substance discovered was in his medication, he has not been arrested.

According to police, trace amounts of a type of amphetamine were detected in Clark’s medication and urine samples.

He reported to Chunichi during spring training in Okinawa Prefecture that an amphetamine was listed on the container of medication and visited the Okinawa police station on Feb. 2.

A preliminary drug examine came back negative, but a stimulant was later detected in more extensive drug and urine tests.

Clark told his team earlier this month he had been taking the medication since he was a child and had permission to use it when he played in the minor leagues in the United States through the end of last season.