The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) made a final decision on yesterday (30th May) that they will not send weightlifting athletes for any international competition, championship or meet for a period of one year effective immediately. This decision means that they will not send the athletes to compete at the Asian Games at Indonesia in August. Furthermore, if the weightlifters want to participate in local tournaments, they will need to obtain a Doping Free Certification and undergo dope test at the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS).
Mr. Datuk Ayub Rahmat, MWF President, said that the decision follows doping cases which have continuously haunted the sport and the national body, and it is also a move to show the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) how serious they really are in combating and addressing negative issues. However, this decision is not meant to punish the athletes, but in actual fact MWF are very concerned about the future and saving the sport from oblivion.
In addition, the MWF are also setting up an Anti-Doping committee made up of independent representatives, NSC, National Sports Institute (NSI), ADAMAS to ensure that the sport garners interest and the right kind of attention and publicity. For the record, this year alone there have been four doping cases involving national weightlifting athletes with one of them being Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Mohamad Fazrul Azrie Mohdad.
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Sources: https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2018/05/374902/weightlifters-suspended-year
