PUTRAJAYA, Oct 4 — Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said sport associations with athletes linked to doping cases at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in July should come forward to explain the issue.
He said the governing bodies of weightlifting, archery and boxing had to clarify the doping cases involving their athletes if there were further actions on the cases.
“Announcements on the matter should be made by the association itself, whether their athletes would be required to go for sample B testing or hearing proceedings,” he told reporters after opening Sazali Samad Academy at i-Tech Tower, Shaftsbury, Cyberjaya here today.
Four Sarawak Sukma medallists found to have failed their doping tests conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency from July 20 to 30.
Two of them were archers who allegedly took sibutramine, a banned substance, while two others were a weightlifter (anabolic steroid) and a boxer (diuretics).
All athletes faced a possible four-year suspension if found taking the banned substances in line with the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Earlier, the National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said the council had given until October 15 for the athletes to make their pleas or challenge with their sample B.
After the date, MSN will hold hearing for the athletes before sending their reports to the minister, who is also Sukma Supreme Council chairman. — Bernama
