LTdL organisers assure a clean race, free of doping

SHAH ALAM: The organisers of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2017 will ensure that all the participants are free from prohibited drugs in the race starting on Feb 22.

LTdL 2017 chief executive officer, Emir Abdul Jalal said he had made it clear from the beginning that LTdL would not admit teams with history of doping into the prestigious event.

“We do not want our event to be associated with doping,” he said at a media conference after announcing three sponsors for the race scheduled from Feb 22 to March 1.

He was comment ing on a statement by the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) that Rahim Emami, a rider of Iranian team Pishgaman had failed a doping test during the Tour of Malaysia in October 2016.

Rahim Emami was tested positive for using anabolic- androgenic steroid, a prohibited substance.

Emir added that LTdL riders found positive for doping would face legal action including withdrawal of prizes and the team would have to return all cash prizes to the organisers.

If they repeated the offence for the second time, the team will be banned from taking part in the competition.

Twenty teams comprising one World Tour team, 18 professional continent a l teams and the Malaysian national team will be participating in the race.

The race held over eight stages covers a total distance of 1,225 km starting from Kuala Berang in Terengganu and ending in Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, Emir announced that Nexedge Techology ( M) Sdn Bhd, distributor of Japan’s leading car rack distributor, Inno Rack; and Spritzer as LTdL sponsors.

Emir said Inno Rack which is sponsoring LTdL for the first time, is offering 60 roof racks for team cars. — Bernama