PETALING JAYA: Wushu exponent Tai Cheau Xuen insists that she has never knowingly taken any illegal substance for performance-enhancing purposes.
Cheau Xuen has been stripped of the Asian Games nanquan and nandao all-round gold medal after testing positive for the stimulant sibutramine.
The Negri Sembilan exponent, who turns 23 on Thursday, reiterated her innocence to national wushu head coach Yoong Thong Foong when he spoke to her after news broke about her positive dope test.
Thong Foong said that Cheau Xuen was saddened by the fact that she could lose her coveted Asiad gold medal.
“Just 10 days ago, she was on top of the world ... now, all of a sudden, she has to face all these uncertainties. She is devastated,” said Thong Foong.
“But she was calm when I spoke to her over the phone today.
“I kept asking her the same question – whether she had taken any drugs – and she kept saying ‘no’.
“She didn’t say much ... but that’s how she is – a quiet type of person.
“It would be hard for her to face media over this issue. Even when she won the gold the other day (on Sept 20), she hardly reacted.
“So, I’d like to urge all of you (the media) not to disturb her for now.”
With the exception of the taiji exponents, Thong Foong said that Cheau Xuen and her other Asiad team-mates have been given a week’s break and “will only report back for training next Monday”.
Cheau Xuen is believed to have gone back to her hometown in Seremban.
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