Top shuttler found positive for doping, not a drug addict - Khairy

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has stressed that the top Malaysian shuttler who was found positive for a doping test in his sample A, did not take drugs.

He said all quarters must understand that the banned substance which caused the national athlete to be found positive by the doping test was 'dexamethasone', type of pain killer for an injury (which is permissible in sports).

"The athlete is not a drug addict, he did not inject heroin or take ecstacy.

"This matter involves a doping substance which is called dexamethasone," he told reporters after chairing the 2014 Asian Games post-mortem meeting at Dewan Komanwel, National Sport Council (MSN) here, today.

It is understood Khairy met the shuttler today and that the date for the opening of his sample B has been set for Nov 4 or 5 at a laboratory in Norway.

Khairy, however, still declined to reveal the name of the shuttler from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Prior to this, local media reports revealed that a renowned Malaysian athlete in the international arena was found to have failed his sample A doping test.

The incident allegedly took place when the player was taking part in the Badminton World Championships in Copenhagen in August.

Touching on another matter, Khairy said former national coaching director, Morten Frost Hansen of Denmark had been offered the post of technical director at BAM.

He said, if Frost agreed, he could begin his duties in March next year.

"I have informed BAM on the need to appoint a technical director. In my discussion with Frost just now, he is very keen to return to Malaysia.

Frost was with BAM from 1997-2000 and turned out players such as Wong Choon Hann, James Chua and Lee Tsuen Seng.