Malaysia rocked by athlete doping again
BY RAJES PAULthe Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Two more doping cases have gripped Malaysian sport – with the latest involving one of the nation’s top bodybuilders.
While weightlifter Mohd Azril Huzairi Ramli has been named by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), the identity of the bodybuilder is very much shrouded in secrecy, with Malaysian Body Building Federation (MBBF) secretary Kamaruzaman Kadir claiming that they are not aware of the incident.
It is learnt that the bodybuilder had failed an out-of-competition doping test recently after taking supplements containing a banned substance.
In the second case, the IWF have provisionally suspended Azril after his urine was tested positive for the banned substance D-methamphetamine.
Pahang’s Azril was a double gold medal winner at last year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis.
But it is the positive test of the bodybuilder that’s sure to set tongues wagging.
Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ong Poh Eng said that they would conduct an internal probe on Azril’s doping violation.
“I do not have the details yet, but we will look into it. We do not condone any of this as it brings disrepute to the image of the sport,” said Poh Eng.
“I’m also the vice-president of the IWF, and we’ve been campaigning for clean competitions without the use of any performance-enhancing substances. We take this matter seriously and we will conduct an internal inquiry.”
Yesterday, National Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) unit head Nishel Kumar did not comment on the bodybuilder’s case, but said that they were facilitating investigation on the doping violation in weightlifting.
“This is another new case that we’re looking at. We will monitor and follow up with the national body so that a thorough investigation will be conducted,” said Nishel.
“In the case of this weightlifter, the substance he took is a recreational drug ... sometimes this can be used to reduce weight.”
Last year, Malaysian sports was rocked by several doping cases. Eight bodybuilders taking part in the Mr Malaysia competition were tested positive for a banned substance in June and they were each handed two-year bans.
Perlis Malaysia Games (Sukma) star Jelinie Empera, also a weightlifter, was banned for two years after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
Wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen – the first Malaysian gold medallist at the Incheon Asian Games in September – tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine and banned four months.
Shuttler Lee Chong Wei was tested positive for the banned dexamethasone during the World Championships in Copenhagen last August and was suspended for eight months.
National track cyclist Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom was initially banned for 18 months but had it reduced to 12 months for using dexamethasone.
