Former Olympic champion Park Tae-hwan has been given an 18-month ban for failing a drugs test, but the South Korean swimmer will be able to compete in the Rio Games next year.

Park, who won 400 metre freestyle gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, tested positive for testosterone on September 3 last year and a FINA Doping Panel opted to suspend the 25-year-old for a year and a half from that date - meaning he can compete again next March.

A statement on the governing body's official website said: "On September 3, 2014 the swimmer Tae Hwan Park (KOR) was tested positive to the substance Testosterone (Class S.1.1.b Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids) with the occasion of an out-of-competition doping control test conducted by FINA.
 
"The FINA Doping Panel decided according to the FINA DC Rule 10.5.2 to impose on the athlete a period of eighteen (18) months' ineligibility, starting on September 3, 2014 and ending at the conclusion of the March 2, 2016 for his first anti-doping rule violation.
 
"Furthermore, the FINA Doping Panel decided that all results achieved by the swimmer on or after September 3, 2014 shall be annulled together with the consequences thereof (forfeiture of medals/prizes, reimbursement of prize money)."

Park last year became the most decorated athlete in South Korea's Asian Games history when he claimed his 20th career medal and also has another three Olympic silver medals to his name.