YOURSAY ‘It is prudent to withhold judgement until all the facts are known.’
BAM: Sample B 'positive', shuttler suspended
Mamba: Dexamethasone is a very common type of steroid prescribed for anti-inflammatory purpose, for example, for muscle aches or eczema.
Shuttler Lee Chong Wei is just being unlucky. This is not a performance-enhancing drug and nothing to be ashamed of. The sport doctor who prescribed it should bear the blame, not Chong Wei.
Ferdtan: Mamba, we don’t agree that Chong Wei, if he is the person tested positive for doping, is unlucky and thus blameless.
He is unlike our young and inexperienced 23-year-old wushu champion, Tai Cheau Xuen, who had to return her Asian Games gold due to her failed dope test.
Chong Wei with more than a decade of playing badminton at the highest level around the world, and being the world champion for many years, he should have known better than to make a simple mistake like that.
He should be aware of the dope tests as he was taking such tests all the time for years. Even if it is a mistake, it is no excuse for an experienced man like him.
Or was he desperate enough to think that he can escape detection by pulling a silly stunt like that due to the pressure to produce results for BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia)? He has not been performing well recently.
The mere fact that this substance, dexamethasone, is banned means that it obviously can enhance a person’s sporting performance. If not, why is it included in the ban list?
Aryan: Was he being treated for injuries by an orthopaedic doctor who is ignorant of the drug protocol for the world class sportspeople? If so, he should come out and apologise for bringing this upon LCW (Lee Chong Wei) and to the nation.
Abasir: I believe it is prudent to withhold judgement until all the facts are known. The remnants of an anti-inflammatory drug in LCW should not trigger the kind of venom usually reserved for those who take performance-enhancing substances to gain unfair advantage.
Just_A_Rakyat: I just can't understand why we have to protect someone who have proven to have done wrong. Is it in our culture too be nice?
Why can't that person can't be named? Let it be known that all actions has a consequence. Are we not man enough to accept our mistake? Is this a Malaysian trait?
Pputeh: LCW is no doctor. Now this calls into question the doctor in BAM who prescribed the drug for him. Didn't the doctor know the 'cooling off' period for traces of the drug to be found in the blood.
The doctor should have seen to it that LCW shouldn't play in any world competition until the effects have worn off. I think the doctors/doctor in BAM has a lot to answer for.
Fair Play: We are talking about professional sports at the international level. The standard of test is of a much, much higher standard. A drug is a drug is a drug in professional sports.
And the rules that apply to professional athletes just don't apply to ordinary humans in their daily life. And we are not talking about Malaysia and the rules we have here.
Anonymous_1371527725: I have high respect for Lee Chong Wei for his tenacity, discipline and above all, sportsmanship, which should be emulated by all our Malaysian sportsmen and sportwomen.
I also believe that he did not use drugs intentionally to boost his performance. The doctor who had prescribed the dexamethasone for him should have to answer for the dope test failure.
Regardless of the consequent punitive actions, he should face it squarely, without shame nor guilt. He has always done his best. Take it bravely and move on. All the best, Datuk Lee.
Anonymous_1378093545: It is an anti-inflammatory drug for heaven's sake. How many times have we bought such things over the counter to help us when in pain? It could very well have been the same for him.
Chong Wei has brought us glory in the badminton arena for many years, for which we should be grateful.
A dope test is a dope test, and yes, we have to stand by the ruling of the BWF (Badminton World Federation). However, we do not have to crucify him for it.
Are we such fair weather fans that we would join in and make him more miserable at this point of time or do we stand by him in good times and in bad?
AJ: It doesn't matter what everybody says. As a world’s No 1, the onus is on him to be clean. No excuses should be condoned.
The pressure put on him by the failed sports policy could have forced him into this predicament. Conferring a title to a still performing sportsperson only adds to the pressure.
I pray it doesn't happen to our superhuman Nicol David, who unlike LCW can beat everybody in the world.
Vijay47: By and large, Malaysians are hopeful and support Lee Chong Wei. After all, he was our champion and brought glory to the nation numerous times over many years.
Since the drug found in his body is not performance-boosting but anti-inflammatory, there is a small but slim chance that WBF may accept his defence. However, should they reject it, what a terrible blow to everyone even if the stripping of titles is for only the more recent years.
Fair Play: What a way to end an otherwise illustrious and long career in professional sport.
But then, it might have been a blessing in disguise in that he needs not go through the humiliating process being beaten time and again by younger players or face the daunting task of struggling with form going into the next Olympics.
Either way, it would be a blot for badminton in Malaysia.
Not Smart: On a light note, why engage London-based firm Morgan Sports Law LLP to handle this issue?
We have many home-grown top lawyers such as Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as well as retired Federal Court judges. They are now experts in matters related to specimens/samples sent for testing and maybe able to spot some errors in the testing processes.
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