KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 ― Malaysia’s top badminton authority has again refused to confirm media reports that the country’s top shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei is the high-profile player implicated in a doping test controversy.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president Datuk Norza Zakaria told a packed press conference today that the name of the player will only be revealed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) once the appeal hearing is complete.
“According to BWF regulations, para 14.4 of Public Disclosure states that “neither BWF nor its association members shall publicly identify players whose samples have resulted in Adverse Analytical Findings, or were alleged to have violated other or this anti-doping regulation until it has been determined in a hearing”,” Norza said.
Norza confirmed that the BWF had notified BAM through a letter dated yesterday that the implicated player had tested positive for the banned anti-inflammatory drug demaxathesone although the BAM official stressed that the substance is known not to be a performance enhancer.
Describing him as “hardworking”, the BAM deputy president insisted that the player is innocent.
“I would like to inform you that we believe this player is a very hardworking player and an exceptional individual.
“We also believe that this player has never resort to shortcuts in his pursuit for success. Henceforth, in the last council meeting, the council has agreed to provide support to this player in all aspects,” Norza said.
The BAM deputy president also appealed for all parties show their support to the player, who he said was distressed by the uproar.
“He is currently in a lot of stress so it is important that we provide him with all the support,” Norza said.
Norza said BAM has engaged the service of a top sports lawyer, UK-based Mike Morgan from Morgan Sports Law LLP, to assist them in the hearing which is expected to be convened soon.
Earlier today Star Online reported that the player implicated in the doping quagmire was Lee.
Local media had widely-reported Lee's failure in the first doping test but Malaysian sports officials have only confirmed that it involved a national shuttler, refusing to name the athlete pending the second test results.
National sports authorities were informed of the first failed test on October 1 and said they were investigating if the Malaysian athlete could have inadvertently taken dexamethasone as part of medical treatment.
Perak-born Lee, 32, was flew to Oslo earlier this week for a follow-up laboratory test on a sample of his urine taken during the August tournament, the daily had previously reported, citing Norza.
Badminton is Malaysia's national sport and Lee has dominated the world rankings for years, though recently his performance has dropped.
