Lee returns home hoping for mercy

KUALA LUMPUR: Former badminton No 1 Lee Chong Wei returned home to Malaysia on Monday and said he faced a three-week wait for the verdict from his doping hearing.

The twice Olympic silver medallist faced a three-person BWF panel in Amsterdam on Saturday after testing positive for the banned anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone during the world championships in August.

“I have cooled down a bit since the hearing. I had waited six months for it and now all we have to do is wait another three weeks for the result,”said Lee.

“Obviously, I am hoping for a good result. I am quite happy with our lawyer as he gave a clear and detailed presentatio

Lee could face a two-year ban

LEE COULD FACE A TWO-YEAR BAN IF FOUND GUILTY, WHICH IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO THE 32-YEAR-OLD’S RETIREMENT

if found guilty, which is likely to lead to the 32-year-old’s retirement.

Malaysian media speculated their favourite sporting son, who has been provisionally suspended by the BWF since November, could be handed a shorter, backdated penalty or even cleared.

Lee had originally hoped for an immediate verdict.

The world number 17 said the three-week delay meant he would likely miss the Sudirman Cup and the April 30 ranking cut off for the Aug. 10-16 world championships in Jakarta.