18-Year-Old Malaysian Sprinter Who Tested Positive For Doping Given A 4-Year Ban
The national sprinter tested positive for doping at the 2019 KOM Indoor Championship.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Jan 2020, 06:23 PM
The Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) has handed national sprinter Muhammad Syazrul Adli Saiful Adli a four-year ban from sports
Syazrul, who is from Penang, participated in the 4x100m relay event at the Malaysian Indoor Sports Championship, where he won a gold medal with the Johor quartet in August last year.
However, he tested positive for methasterone and oxymetholone during the tournament in 2019. The doping test was conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS).
The two substances, banned under the anabolic androgenic steroids, boost performance.
According to MAF president, SM Muthu, the decision to suspend Syazrul from participating in any sports-related activities for four years is because the federation wants to send a clear signal to other athletes
We came down hard on him because we want to send a clear signal to other athletes that we do not tolerate cheaters.
Bernama reported the MAF president saying that the federation takes the issue of doping seriously and abides by the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
"Syazrul failed to prove the external factors that led him to the substance and even pleaded guilty to taking illicit substances," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
"During the hearing, he said he had been taking extra food supplements for the past two years given by his friend and hence no action was taken against his coach (Mohd Poad Md Kassim)."
Syazrul has been given 30 days to submit an appeal to the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS).
