Khairy: Malaysia to challenge "dope test" on disqualified Asian Games Wushu gold

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will challenge the decision of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to disqualify Asian Games Wushu gold medalist exponent Tai Cheau Xuen.

Tai bagged Malaysia's first gold medal at Incheon, South Korea. She failed a drugs test.

Sports and Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) via his tweet handle @Khairykj said:

"Serious concerns about doping process for Wushu athlete. We maintain integrity of process compromised and will appeal to arbitration court."

Khairy challenged the "irregularities in the testing and declaration process," saying there was an "18-hour lapse from urine sample to dope test."

"Incomplete chain of custody forms. No record of where sample kept. Something's not right!"

Khairy said Malaysia will concede if the doping allegations were found to be true, but the OCA had failed to answer Malaysia's queries on the doping process.

"I believe the process was compromised. Our athlete unfairly stripped of gold medal. We will challenge this decision all the way. #AsianGames," he tweeted.

The 23-year old Tai was reported to have tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine after winning the women's nanquan and nandao all-round event on Sept 20, the first day of the Games’ competition.

The ingredient is widely used as a dietary supplement to control weight gain but has been banned in many countries as it can cause stroke.

The OCA said in a statement on Tuesday that Tai will have to return her medal.

She is the first Malaysian medal winner to be caught for doping in Asian Games history.

The national wushu team returned to Kuala Lumpur last week after their competition ended on Sept 24.

"The competitor has been disqualified from the competition as well as these Games, and as such her accreditation cancelled and her medal withdrawn," said the statement.

Tai is the third athlete to test positive for doping. A Tajik footballer Khurshed Beknazarov and  Cambodian soft tennis player Yi Sophany have already been expelled for doping offences earlier.

The 19-year-old Cambodian girl was also found to have taken sibutramine.

Related story

Wushu exponent Cheau Xuen fails dope test