Chef de mission: We're not giving back the wushu gold

INCHEON: Malaysia will not return the Asian Games gold won by wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen although she has been positively tested for taking banned drugs.

Chef de mission Datuk Danyal Balagopal said they will submit an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is based in Switzerland, regarding the procedures of the drugs tests.

Danyal questioned why it took so long, about 15 hours, to know the result of the urine sample.

“We usually know the result as soon as it is brought to the lab.

“On the day when the urine was taken from Cheau Xuen, there were five samples placed together.

“There is a possibility that it was accidentally switched. Why do we need to give back the gold medal?

“We will appeal to the CAS. In fact after the competition, Cheau Xuen waited for nearly two hours to give her urine sample.

“I can’t elaborate more on the procedures as it involves legal issues. I will discuss with the National Sports Institute (NSI) and submit the appeal to CAS,” he added.

Danyal said he sympathised with Cheau Xuen’s predicament.

“It is unfortunate. I am convinced Cheau Xuen did nothing wrong. Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz (NSI director general) and I questioned her a few times when we received the results of the A sample. She strongly denied knowingly taking any illegal drugs or substances,” added Danyal.