The public’s reaction to international ‘suspension’

year alone there have been four doping cases involving national weightlifters, and the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) have taken drastic action by barring Malaysians from taking part in any international competitions for a year effective Tuesday.

Despite the Asian Games in Indonesia taking place this August, the sport’s national body made the shocking decision which is also a message to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) just how serious they are in dealing with doping issues.

NSTP Sport went out on the streets to get the public’s reaction on the “suspension”.

Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Asri, 30, self-employed — The shocking decision by the association definitely took the weightlifting athletes by surprise what more with the Asian Games just around the corner.

But our weightlifters need to accept such a move and instead use it as a stern reminder not to do the wrong thing by getting involved in doping.

Meor Redzuan Meor Mohd Danial, 29, site supervisor — There are too many doping cases happening of late involving not just senior weightlifters but young and upcoming juniors as well.

Could it be that such banned substances are easily obtainable so weightlifting athletes take a shortcut in order to achieve success?

For me, such a move is a must and the association needs to find a way to curb the use of such banned substances among Malaysian weightlifters.

Nurhayati Ismail, 27, housewife — Such a punishment whereby weightlifting athletes cannot take part in international competitions for a year is too long a period.

With the Asian Games being a miss this year, there’s also the Sea Games taking place next year and our national weightlifters will end up missing out on putting their abilities to the test on the international stage.

The association need to find a way so that all the athletes understand the severe consequences of doping.

They should not make such grave mistakes that not just ruin their sporting careers but bring a bad name and negative publicity to the sport.

Mohd Sharul Ezwan Mohamad,26, customer service centre operator— Perhaps this could be a good, valuable lesson to all our weightlifting athletes not to take doping lightly or even think of get involved in it.

They must realise that when they compete, that they are representing the country and taking the easy way out to achieve success is not the w a y.

They should be ashamed of themselves as weightlifters from other countries can win without the illicit use of banned subtances.

Muhammad Syahiran Mohd Yunos, 25, engineer’s assistant— Apart from suspending the weightlifting athletes from international competitions, perhaps the association need to think long and hard about fighting the use of banned substances.

The move to make it a must for weightlifting athletes to undergo doping tests before competing in the Malaysia Games is just one way of combating the doping issue.

And why not get the athletes to undergo dope tests much earlier before taking part in competitions?

Mohammad Rafieni Mohd Yazid, 27, technician — I pity the weightlifting athletes because the Asian Games is just around the corner.

And some of them would have already been prepared to compete.

Why couldn’t the association wait till after the Asian Games to mete out such a suspension in the first place?

Just because of a few bad apples, the rest of the athletes end up having to pay such a price which is unfair to them.