'No clear evidence' Joseph Schooling, Amanda Lim were taking drugs; no preferential treatment given: Shanmugam

SINGAPORE: There was "no clear evidence" that national swimmers Joseph Schooling and Amanda Lim were taking drugs at the time of testing, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Thursday (Sep 1).

Speaking on the sidelines of a launch of an AIBI Maxwell wellness facility, he added that the duo were not given any favourable or preferential treatment and were treated like others in similar situations.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Schooling and Lim had been investigated by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for possible offences related to the consumption of cannabis.

The evidence was inconclusive and their urine tests were negative, Mr Shanmugam wrote earlier in a Facebook post explaining steps taken against the duo.

Schooling and Lim however were "honest" and admitted to having taken drugs in the past, said the Home Affairs Minister.

He added that Lim, 29, had a "drug utensil" and received a warning for that. 

As a full-time national serviceman (NSF), Schooling, 27, was handed over to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to decide on steps to be taken.

Some members of the public may think that this mistake by Schooling and Lim would "sort of erase" all of their achievements, Mr Shanmugam told journalists on Thursday.

"I think most Singaporeans won't agree with that. Their achievements are tremendous, they have given much and they have much to give with their dedication, their energy, their focus, and one mistake doesn't erase all of that," he added.

"If I were to tell Singaporeans, 20 years ago someone committed an offence by taking drugs when they were in university overseas. Do Singaporeans expect that such a person would be subjected to DRC (drug rehabilitation centre)?" said Mr Shanmugam.

This is still an offence because