SEA Games gold medal tally may stand at 145 after all
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could still end up with a final gold medal tally of 145 from the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year.
Philippines equestrian rider Colin Syquia, who won the individual jumping gold at the KL SEA Games, is likely to lose his medal as his horse Adventure E had tested positive for the banned substance Clomethiazole.
The sedative was found in the horse’s blood. Syquia delivered the only gold for the Philippines in equestrian at the KL SEA Games.
FEI have provisionally suspended both the rider and the horse.
National riders Sharmini Christina Ratnasingham and Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil had finished second and third in the discipline.
Sharmini should move up to the gold-medal spot while Qabil will receive the silver if the results stand.
Olympic Council of Malaysia ( OCM) secretary general Datuk Low Beng Choo did not refer to equestrian but hinted yesterday that Malaysia would get the gold.
“Be patient, there could be something coming up. It (Malaysia’s gold medal haul) may still be 145 golds but I don’t want to speculate.
“There is something developing but it is not confirmed yet.
“Wait for us to finalise everything with the SEA Games Federation.”
A senior official from the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) confirmed they are aware of the situation but do not wish to comment further. Malaysia initially won 145 golds at the KL Games. However, national diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee later tested positive for sibutramine, a substance commonly found in slimming pills, and she was later stripped of her 3m springboard individual gold and 3m springboard synchro gold medals (with partner Nur Dhabitah Sabri).
Dhabitah, who finished second in the 3m individual event, was promoted to the gold-medal spot but the gold in the 3m synchronised event will go to Singapore duo Ashlee Tan-Fong Kay Yian.