SEA Games dope cheats to face OCM panel next week

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will call up the two athletes who failed the doping test at the SEA Games in Indonesia, to face the investigating panel next week.

OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the duo would be required to appear before the panel at Wisma OCM to state their case.

The three-man panel, comprising OCM deputy president Datuk A. Sani Karim, Datuk Dr S.S Cheema and Indonesia SEA Games chef-de-mission Datuk Naim Mohamad, was appointed by OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar.

“Mohd Yunus Lasalleh (member of the men’s 4x400m quartet that won a gold medal) and weightlifter Firdaus Abdul Razak (winner of a bronze medal in the men’s 105kg) will be given a chance to defend themselves.

“They can come with their lawyer, coach or manager but representatives from their respective associations need not be present,” Kok Chi said yesterday.

The Indonesian SEA Games Organising Committee (INASOC) had confirmed that the A and B samples of Mohd Yunus and Firdaus had tested positive for banned substances.

Sieh said the findings of the panel would be submitted to the SEA Games Federation (SGF) for further action.

He added that it was INASOC’S responsibility to set up a panel to investigate the case, but since they have not responded despite repeated reminders, OCM had decided to set up the panel.