News reports are dropping badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s name as the athlete who reportedly failed a doping test.
The Star Online reports that Lee, one of Malaysia’s most successful shuttlers, has been ‘implicated’ as the athlete widely reported to have failed a random test at the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark in August. The report, however, did not specify details on how his name was dragged into the scandal.
The Malaysian Insider meanwhile reports that Lee is gaining immense support on Twitter as his fans dismiss news that he may be the athlete involved in the scandal. Indian newswire IANS reports that Lee was missing from the French Open, which began today.
News of a top national shuttler failing a random doping test spread this morning after the New Straits Times reported what had happened in Denmark in August.
The NST said that officials form the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) were told about it during the Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed the news but stopped short of revealing the athlete’s identity.
I can confirm that a Msian athlete has tested positive for a banned substance. The athlete has requested for the B sample to be tested.
— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) October 21, 2014
His test reportedly showed ‘traces of a low-level drug banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
An unnamed official from the BAM told NST that the shuttler is now waiting for results on his ‘B’ sample. He also said that due to the ‘high profile’ nature of the case, no statement would be released until all the necessary information is in order.
“I can’t remember the name of the banned substance but it is neither anabolic steroids nor a performance- enhancing drug. The shuttler must have taken it unintentionally but he should have been more careful,” said the official yesterday,” the NST quoted the official as saying.
