KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) has expressed regret that a national cyclist was reported using a prohibited substance while competing in the 2013 Jelajah Malaysia (Tour of Malaysia) from June 26 to 30.
“All athletes should be aware of the prohibition on taking banned drugs in sports,” MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad told Bernama here yesterday.
According to an English daily, MNCF vice-president and Anti-Doping Committee chairman, Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill confirmed Terengganu cyclist, Ahmad Fallanie Ali was screened positive for using a banned substance.
A report from the International Cycling Union (UCI) found the cyclist’s urine in sample A recorded abnormal reading for methandienone metabolites, which is anabolic steroid.
“MNCF’s Anti-Doping Committee and Disciplinary Committee will be holding a meeting shortly to call him for an explanation apart from officially informing him of the punishment to be meted out,” said Naim.
“It is disappointing that there are still athletes who take the issue of medicine or banned substances lightly in competitions,” he added.
Naim who is also 2013 Jelajah Malaysia chief operating officer said this was the first such incident in the history of the race and that it had marred its prestige.
“Even though doping screening was not required for the race, the organisers took upon themselves to carry out random dope tests with the cooperation of National Sports Institute,” he said.
Naim said if found guilty, Ahmad Fallanie would be suspended from participating in any races sanctioned by UCI and MNCF.
For the record, two national cyclists, Razif Salleh and Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi were both suspended from competition for two years in 2007 and 2009 for using banned substances. — Bernama