The Japanese Olympic Committee will put forth hammer thrower Koji Murofushi as a candidate again for the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission election next year at the London Games, Kyodo News learned Tuesday.
The JOC plans to submit the name of its candidate to the IOC by the Sept. 1 deadline.
Murofushi, who won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, failed in his bid in the election at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but according to a source, "Murofushi, who is internationally well-known, is a prime candidate."
The IOC Athletes' Commission's role is to make sure athletes' interests are represented and, if elected, Murofushi could also serve as an IOC member.
From Japan, tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka was a candidate at the 2000 Sydney Games, while skier Kenji Ogiwara was up for election at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics but neither won.