Lee Chong Wei has been provisionally suspended by the BWF for a doping violation on Tuesday. - BERNAMA
PETALING JAYA: It has been a little overdue but the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has finally revealed world No.1 Lee Chong Wei as the player who failed a dope test.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the BWF said that Chong Wei will be provisionally suspended due to an anti-doping regulation violation.
This means Chong Wei who was tested positive for dexamethasone in both his A and B samples, will be unable to participate in any competitions until a hearing by the BWF to decide his fate.
The world body also confirmed that the matter has been referred to the BWF doping hearing panel to determine a time, date and location for a hearing.
Additionally, under the BWF anti-doping regulations and following the suspension, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are allowed to publicly identify the player as Chong Wei.
Meanwhile BAM deputy president Datuk Norza Zakaria, who is also the chairman of the anti-doping working committee, finally acknowledged Chong Wei’s involvement, but added that there is no news on a BWF hearing yet.
“Yes it is Chong Wei. But although we have been in constant communication with the BWF, they have not given us a date for the hearing,” said Norza.
“Right now the main thing that we are doing is trying to get the BWF to set up the hearing as soon as possible and prepare the necessary in order to present the case.”
BAM have hired London-based sports lawyer Mike Morgan for the case with the objective of mitigating a lighter sentence for the 32-year-old player and not the two-year maximum penalty.
