WEIGHTLIFTER PAYS HEAVY PRICE FOR FAILING DOPING TEST

PETALING JAYA: A weightlifter will be barred from competing in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak after failing a doping test.

The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) confirmed that the athlete is the only one who has failed a screening conducted on 165 weightlifters from 14 states.

MWF president Datuk Ayub Rahmat said that the screening was done in hand with the Youth and Sports Ministry, National Sports Council ( NSC) and Anti- Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas).

He added that the culprit would face an internal inquiry and disciplinary action.

“It’s unfortunate that one of the weightlifters failed from the 165 who had undergone doping tests,” said Ayub in a statement yesterday.

“We will take action against the athlete after an internal inquiry is concluded.

“We take doping offences seriously to safeguard the name of the sport and country. Only weightlifters who have passed the doping tests are allowed to compete in the Sukma.”

The MWF earlier opted for a self- imposed ban by not sending their athletes to international competitions for a year following a series of doping cases involving their lifters.

The national body took the drastic step to stop the rot in May after four of their athletes – Mohd Fazrul Azrie Mohdad, Muhd Hakimie Haikal Nordin, Muhd Zaidi Nordin and Ronny Jesos – tested positive for banned substances.