Dream is over

Hafifi rules himself out of C’wealth Games due to doping

PETALING JAYA: National weightlifter Hafifi Mansor can forget about defending the men’s below 69kg gold medal for Malaysia at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia next April.

Hafifi admitted that he has failed his B sample dope test although the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) have yet to announce the official result.

Hafifi was evasive on the topic at first but later opened up when questioned about his B sample result.

The 27-year-old tested positive for the anabolic steroid oxymetholone at the Australian Open in Melbourne in March but the result was only made known by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) last month.

He then flew to Melbourne two weeks ago to request for his B sample to be tested.

“I’m quite sure I’ll be suspended. It (result) is not in my favour.

“I have to forget about competing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next year.

“My only hope is that I will receive a shorter suspension, if possible less than four years.

“I’ve been told that MWF president Datuk Ong Poh Eng is at the World Weightlifting Championships in the United States to discuss the matter with the IWF.

“The dose (of the banned substance) was quite high. Hopefully he (Poh Eng) can help me get a lighter suspension.

“He (Poh Eng) will be back in Malaysia on Dec 2. Hopefully, we will get a clearer picture then.

“There’s still an investigation (hearing) process to go through, so I will just sit tight for now,” said Hafifi, who was named the Best Male Athlete for Armed Forces on Monday.

Hafifi admitted that he was devastated over the whole issue and stressed that he never took any banned substances.

“I feel that there’s something wrong. The sample was taken in March and (the result was) only released in October.

“I have never taken any banned substances. I feel I could have been set up.

“It’s a big blow for me. I’m at a loss now. “Weightlifting has been my life since I was a kid. I have lived at Bukit Jalil (Bukit Jalil Sports School and the National Sports Council) since I was 13.”

Anabolic steroid is viewed very seriously by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA) and carries a mandatory four-year suspension if found guilty.