15-year ban: Tok Mat says may turn to CAS as last resort in quest for justice

KUALA LUMPUR: Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail will, as a last resort, turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for justice after being handed a 15-year ban by the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF) Disciplinary Committee yesterday.

"We need not fear the decision made by ASTAF. Let's wait for the court's decision as it will be fairer,” he said in a brief reply to Bernama today, adding that he would only turn to the CAS after exhausting all other avenues.

The ASTAF Disciplinary Committee had made the decision after hearing four charges against Ahmad for sending a letter to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and which was copied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in his capacity as ASTAF deputy president on Feb 2, 8 and 24.

ASTAF described it as an act or written statement that was ungentlemanly, insulting or improper or likely to bring disrepute to the game.

Ahmad, who is fondly known as Tok Mat, has 14 days to appeal against the four charges and sentence meted out to him.

Ahmad said he does not want to blow up the issue or do anything that could bring disgrace to the holy month of Ramadan.

“So, I will not make any statements for now. I will be ready to issue a media statement after the sixth day of the Hari Raya celebrations,” he said.

Yesterday, the ASTAF Disciplinary Committee handed out a 15-year ban on Tok Mat, effective today, apart from asking him to reimburse ASTAF US$25,000 (about RM102,900) to cover the cost of convening the entire disciplinary committee hearing.

Failure to settle the amount will result in him being given an additional two-year suspension.

Ahmad was charged with violating ASTAF bylaws as well as several matters in the Constitution of the Asian governing body, including Article 5.5.

For the first, second and third charges, Tok Mat was banned five years each from sepak takraw locally and internationally, while for the fourth charge, he was banned 10 years from local and international sepak takraw.

-- BERNAMA