Asum to give Wendy chance to explain before taking action

KUALA LUMPUR: The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) will give national diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee a chance to explain about her failed dope test.

The 24-year-old Wendy’s B sample also tested positive for sibu­tramine, a stimulant commonly found in slimming products but is on the banned list of substances under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“We have world class divers and it’s sad that one of them failed a doping test. We apologise to the people of Malaysia for her mistake,” said Asum president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

“We will set up a committee to look into the matter. We will take the necessary action against Wendy after the investigation committee submit its report to us.

“Under the WADA rules, any athlete found positive for taking sibu­tramine faces a two-year ban.

“We will give Wendy the chance to explain her part before we decide on the action to be taken against her.”

Wendy was tested positive during the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August. She won two golds – women’s 3m springboard individual and 3m springboard synchro with Nur Dhabitah Sabri.

Wendy will have to return both gold medals.

Malaysia, however, will get to keep the 3m springboard gold as Nur Dhabitah finished second and will be promoted to first place.

In the 3m springboard synchro, silver medallist Ashlee Tan-Fong Kay Yian of Singapore will get the gold.

Malaysia’s total gold medal haul is now 143 while Singapore’s rises to 59.

Shahidan said that they would appeal to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and also the SEA Games Federation not to take away the gold won in the women’s 3m springboard synchro.

“Although Wendy was tested positive for doping, it wasn’t a performance-enchancing drug. So, it’s unfair for Dhabitah to lose the synchro gold,” said Shahidan, who added that Wendy’s case should be a lesson to other national divers to be extra careful about what they consume.