Mawan on the case of Jelinie Empera

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KUCHING:  The doping allegation against Sarawak’s Sukma weightlifting gold medalist Jelinie Empera remains under investigation.

Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom said the state will explore all necessary means to ensure that fairness and justice is accorded to the 21-year-old who was stripped of her two gold medals and sportswoman award.

Jelinie’s records in the women’s snatch and clean and jerk events at the Perlis games in May 2014 have also been nullified.

“As a leader of the state, on behalf of our sports association and the Ministry, I would like to convey our sympathy to any state athlete who may be involved or subjected to this sort of scrutiny.

This is especially in the case of Jelinie after (she) was put in the spotlight for her achievements.

“We understand that all athletes are subject to a doping test and that this is carried out in the utmost professional manner but

it is premature at the moment to say that our athlete is guilty or not.

“There are areas that we need to look into. While appreciating that investigation is underway, (we) will not submit or deny the outcome,” Mawan said when asked for an update on Jelinie during a press conference held at his office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur yesterday.

The senior minister did not rule other factors that led to the positive traces of anabolic steroids in Jelinie’s test samples such as her unknowingly taking the banned substance.

This include the possibility of an act of sabotage or tampering of urine samples.

“In this scenario, how do we find her guilty? When you strive for excellence, a lot of things is possible. When you don’t achieve anything, it is not a problem but when you achieve something, it is not a surprise that people will find ways to undermine each other.

“At the moment, the state is not in the position on deciding whether to contest the result or not. Our sympathy lies completely with our athletes. We will wait for the outcome,” he continued.

An athlete of Jelinie’s prowess, Mawan added, doesn’t just grow strength over-night by taking “magic pills.

On Monday, Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin was reported as saying that officials from the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) are in the process of collecting all evidence to prove her innocence.

MSNS acting director Lucas Kalang Laeng had said that Jelinie did not take prohibited drugs but had consumed traditional medicine at her village before the games to control her menstrual period.

More than 400 athletes were randomly selected to undergo testing during the 2014 Sukma for budding athletes under 21-years-old.