Khairy does not reveal identity of athlete involved in doping incident

Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin today confirmed reports of a national athlete who had tanked doping test in an international tournament recently.

However, he said, the identity of the athlete will not be announced until the results of Sample B is revealed and tested positive.

“As far as the regulations of the international sports association is concerned, they won’t reveal the name of the athlete until Sample B results is obtained, "to safeguard the athlete involved to abide to the international sports federation involved," said Khairy during a walkabout session with Youth and Sports deputy minister Datuk M.Saravanan at Little India in Brickfields in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration on Wednesday.

Khairy said the Doping Agency of Malaysia (ADAMAS) has been informed about the matter in a letter from the Sports International Federation on Oct 1.

When asked about the condition of the athlete, Khairy said the athlete was shocked by the decision but gave full cooperation to the National Sports association and ADAMAS.

Khairy Jamaluddin

Khairy fielded the barrage of questions from Malaysian press pertaining a certain Malaysian athlete believed to have tanked the doping test at an international tournament recently. - Astro AWANI/Haider Yutim

Khairy said that based on the International Anti-Doping Agency guidelines (WADA), athletes who failed doping tests are normally given the opportunity to take second test or Sample B.

“The athlete has until October 17 to apply for the sample B test. The athlete has already made the application on October 16 and waiting for response from the international sports federation concerned on the date of Sample B test," he said.

Khairy also said that he already knew about Sample A result much earlier and investigation has started between two and three weeks ago.

The athlete has also requested to view the sample when it was opened and granted permission to do so.

“If it proves positive then the athlete’s title is affected, if it’s negative then it is fine, too,” said Khairy, in response of the athlete's present state of affairs.

Khairy added that the Ministry has established an ad hoc committee chaired by the National Sports Institute chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz and was assisted by ADAMAS Head of Unit, Nishel Kumar.

The committee is expected to enlist the assistance of anti-doping and medical experts’ to ensure that no unauthorised materials are used in the treatment.

Khairy also mulled about the possibility of having more screening towards athletes in order to avoid the recurrence of this incident.

Meanwhile, Khairy said he viewed this matter very serious because Malaysia was once a member of the board of WADA and committed to the policy of zero tolerance on doping.

"We will review the education and exposure given to the athletes. It is the sole responsibility of the athletes, so athletes cannot blame the coaches... the athlete must be responsible on their own food and treatment received, "he said.

The 'mysterious' national sports icon, which is said to have tested positive for doping, remains to be a hot issue since Monday.

The athlete is believed to have tested positive during a major sporting event in the middle of this year, after Sample A results were recently revealed.