Soon after our national pride and Malaysian shuttler Lee Chong Wei was put under provisional suspension after traces of dexamethasone were found in his urine samples taken during the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, as anyone would expect, people started talking. What Chong Wei himself didn’t expect was for former national doubles shuttler Razif Sidek (second eldest of the 6 Sidek brothers) to jump in on it and defame him further.
Razif had apparently told Malay daily Kosmo! on 11th Nov that “several Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) officials were aware that Chong Wei had been taking banned substances for some time” but “kept mum as he’s the world’s top shuttle”. He also spouted allegations that Chong Wei had hired a foreign doctor to treat him.
Upon getting word about the allegations, Chong Wei had apparently tried without success to contact Razif. As such, the world #1 has confirmed that he’s suing Razif Sidek for defamation. Speaking to MMO, he was quoted as saying:
My lawyer sent him a letter a few days ago and we will settle this matter in court. He (Razif) had called me to apologise after receiving the letter, but what’s done is done. I can’t let this go because he defamed me. As a former shuttler, I’m sure he knew better than to make false allegations against me — especially during these trying times. He has hurt not only me, but the entire country with his comments.
The 2-time Olympic silver medallist added, “Why don’t you (the press) try and contact him to see what he has to say?”
As previously mentioned, last month, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) suspended Chong Wei from all tournaments after both his A and B samples were found positive for banned substance dexamethasone. Just in case you’re unclear, dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory substances used to aid rehabilitation and is permitted outside competition as it is not a performance enhancing drug. Athletes can only use it during competition if they fill up a Therapeutic Use Exemptions form.
Chong Wei is under provisional suspension and his case will be discussed by the Badminton World Federation Doping Hearing Panel later this month. He faces a maximum 2-year ban but could receive a lighter sentence as he as an exemplary record having passed 124 anti-doping tests in 15 years.
Sources: MMO, The Star Online, Malaysian Insider.
