Ikeda took Olympic Games silver in Tokyo 2021 and came second at the World Championship in Eugene 2022, just ahead of the Swedish bronze medalist Perseus Karlström.
But now he is temporarily suspended by the International Athletics Federation's anti-doping organization AIU. On Friday, AIU announced that the 26-year-old Japanese athlete is suspended while he is being investigated for suspected doping offenses.
It's unexpected news, says Perseus Karlström to Aftonbladet.
Yes, he is one of the biggest in the sport. And just that it's about Japan, which is a major nation. It makes it a huge shock. It doesn't feel good at all, says Karlström to the newspaper.
AIU does not specify exactly what Ikeda has tested positive for, only that irregularities have been detected in the Japanese athlete's biological passport.
So we'll see what happens, but it's definitely a big deal, says Karlström.
In the latest major championship competition, the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, Koki Ikeda finished in seventh place.
