Young and reckless
Two more athletes tested positive for banned substances
Two more positive doping cases were detected from the recent Malaysia Games (Sukma). A 21-year-old male weightlifter from Pahang was tested positive for two banned substances. A female judo athlete from Perak was also tested positive. Last week, the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) already revealed two positive cases from the Sukma involving two 18-year-old weightlifters from Terengganu. The revelation, according to Adamas director Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz (pic), is a worrying sign as it involves young athletes.
PUTRAJAYA: There seems to be no end with two more positive doping cases from the recent Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak.
A 21-year-old male weightlifter from Pahang has tested positive for two banned substances – methylhexaneamine and dimethylbutylamine from the A sample.
And shockingly, it’s not his first offence as the weightlifter was banned for two years for a previous doping offence back in 2016.
He can expect to be handed a four-year ban and if he commits another offence, faces a lifetime ban.
A female judo athlete from Perak, also 21, also tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide.
Last week, the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) announced two positive cases from the Sukma involving two 18-yearold weightlifters from Terengganu.
And Adamas director Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz is worried there may be more.
A total of 176 samples were taken from athletes at the recent Sukma and sent to the accredited testing laboratory in New Delhi, India.
“We still have four samples where the results are not conclusive and the authorities in New Delhi have asked whether we would like them to test the samples again,” said Ramlan.
“We have agreed and we are in the process of waiting for the outcome.
“We tested the gold and silver medal winners, so we have notified the relevant stakeholders to take the necessary actions,” said Ramlan, who added it is a worrying
sign for positive doping cases involving young athletes under the age of 21.
There have been a total of 13 doping cases in sports so far this year, with eight coming from weightlifting alone.
“We saw an increase of 0.5 per cent compared to last year.
“Weightlifting had more cases
but that is also because the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) have been working together with us to intensify the number of tests – whether during or out of the competition.
“As for the case involving the judo athlete, the substance is allowed if she had applied for the use under therapeutic exemption.
“But there was no such letter and we had no choice but to record it under positive doping.
“We need to raise awareness of the implications of taking banned substances even at the grassroots level and this needs cooperation from all sectors.
“The coaches and parents need to be involved too.”