HAFIFI IN HOT WATER
Weightlifter tests positive for steroid
FOLLOWING the doping and rape incidents involving national divers as well as the volunteer wheelchair tennis coach jailed for sodomy with ballboys recently, Malaysian sports suffered yet another heavy blow yesterday.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced on Thursday that they have provisionally suspended national weightlifter Hafifi Mansor for testing positive for the anabolic steroid oxymetholone.
Hafifi, a gold medalist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, could face a four-year suspension as oxymetholone is a performance enhancing substance which boosts the production of red blood cells and promotes muscle growth.
It is viewed as a serious offence by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and it is placed under the S1 (anabolic agents) category.
Hafifi, however, has the option to have his B sample tested.
Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ong Poh Eng claimed that the association are in the dark over the issue and will seek clarification from IWF.
“We only found out about this yesterday. We are unclear on the details of when the test was conducted,” said Poh Eng.
“From what we understand the sample was taken during an event in Melbourne in March, however, this is something I will have to confirm with IWF and I will be contacting them.
“I met Hafifi today and he claimed that he did not take anything (with banned substances). Whatever it is I have to get more details before we can decide on what further action to take.”
It is believed that the urine sample was taken during the Australian Open held in Melbourne in March, where Hafifi won the men's under-69kg class gold.
Hafifi could not be reached for comment, however, a trusted source disclosed that he is keen on having his B sample tested.