National badminton hero and world #1 Lee Chong Wei is taking one of his legendary forebears to court.
Razif Sidek, one of the iconic Sideks who brought Malaysian badminton to world renown in the 80s and 90s, is being sued for telling Kosmo! that several officials of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) were aware that Chong Wei had been taking banned substances, but kept quiet to protect the world’s top shuttler.
“My lawyer sent him a letter a few days ago and we will settle this matter in court. He (Razif) had called me to apologise after receiving the letter, but what’s done is done,” Chong Wei said, according to The Malay Mail Online‘s Nicolas Anil.
“I can’t let this go because he defamed me.
“As a former shuttler, I’m sure he knew better than to make false allegations against me — especially during these trying times. He has hurt not only me, but the entire country with his comments.”
Chong Wei also asked the press to attempt to contact Razif to get the veteran shuttler’s reaction on the matter.
Chong Wei is currently under a provisional suspension from professional badminton after he was tested positive for dexamethasone, a banned substance, during thee World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark this past August.
Dexamethasone, while not a performance-enhancing drug, can only be used by athletes if they apply to do so through a Therapeutic Use Exemptions form.
Chong Wei’s case will be discussed by the Badminton World Federation Doping Hearing Panel later this month. He faces a maximum ban of two years, but could possibly receive a lighter sentence in light of his sterling record of having passed 124 anti-doping tests over the past 15 years.
