KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — SEA Games chef-de-mission Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria has voiced his concern that only 30 per cent of athletes in Malaysia’s 510-strong contingent have taken doping tests.
He said all team managers, sports associations and coaches should encourage their athletes to take the test as soon as possible as the SEA Games is only 45 days away.
“Associations and coaches should know the importance of the athletes undergoing the screening and adhering to the schedule,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting with team managers for the SEA Games in Singapore at the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
“Sports associations should be responsible for ensuring their athletes are drug free,” he said.
“Even though the government has been reminding athletes on doping, the sports associations should also pay serious attention to the matter.
“We want Malaysia to have zero doping cases.”
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier directed the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS) to conduct doping tests on all SEA Games-bound athletes.
Mohamad Norza said the doping test exercise costs RM500,000.
The final SEA Games training camp will be held at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus at Puncak Alam in Shah Alam from May 22-24. — Bernama
