LEE CHONG WEI FAILS DOPE TEST

BADMINTON’S WORLD NO. 1 SUSPENDED, FACES TWO-YEAR BAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton’s topranked player Lee Chong Wei has failed a doping test, a senior Malaysian sports official said Saturday. Lee, who has been temporarily suspended pending a hearing by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) doping panel, faces a potential two-year ban from competition.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy chairman Mohamad Norza Zakaria confirmed Saturday that a test carried out on Nov. 5 in Oslo, Norway, on the “B’’ sample of an unnamed player had backed up the positive finding of the “A’’ sample from a doping control at this year’s World Championships in August.

Mohamad declined to identify the player. However, a senior Malaysian sports official con-

LEE, IN COMMENTS RELEASED THROUGH A FRIEND’S BLOG, SAID HE WAS SHOCKED AND THAT HE HOPED TO QUICKLY CLEAR HIS NAME.

firmed that it was 32-year-old Lee. The official did not give his name because he was not authorized to reveal Lee’s identity to the media.

Mohamad said the player tested positive for the banned substance dexamethasone, but the association believed he was innocent. “This player is a very dedicated player and an exceptional individual,” he said. “We believe this player has never resorted to shortcuts to achieve success.”

The Kuala Lumpur-based BWF would hear an expected challenge to the finding by the BAM and Lee.