KUALA LUMPUR - The national sports arena has been tainted with another doping incident, this time involving an athlete who competed in the 2023 Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) Track and Field Championships at the MSN Mini Stadium, Bukit Jalil last February.
Without revealing details of the athlete, the Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS) confirmed that the doping test result was positive for the use of a prohibited substance or Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for sibutramine.
"Confirmation of the results was received from the Anti-Doping Laboratory in Doha, Qatar (ADLQ) for the analysis of samples of the athlete concerned with the discovery of prohibited substances in the samples, which is in the class S.6 Stimulants - sibutramine," ADAMAS said in a statement.
Following this, the athlete has been suspended from participating in any other tournaments or competitions until the results of the hearing process are announced.
ADAMAS, when contacted, confirmed that the athlete did not compete in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia last month.
Sibutramine is a substance listed in the list of substances prohibited for use during competitions by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
It is commonly used in most weight loss products and slimming pills available in the market, and this is not the first (doping) case involving Malaysian athletes.
Meanwhile, ADAMAS said the athlete involved will be given the opportunity to enter defence and provide any evidence to support it during the hearing of the case.
The agency also promised that the entire process will be carried out transparently and in accordance with the ADAMAS Anti-Doping Rules 2021 and the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM).
"The Principle of Strict Liability is applicable to athlete.
"This means that every athlete must be fully responsible for the substances found in their urine sample and/or blood sample taken during doping control testing, regardless of whether the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or method.
"Therefore, it is important that athletes and Athletes Support Personnel know the rules and understand their responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code," said ADAMAS. - BERNAMA