NST : Doping: Kumar believed to have consumed slimming tea
KUALA LUMPUR: The failure of national hockey goalkeeper, S. Kumar in a doping test is believed to be caused by consuming slimming tea during the Asia Cup Championship in Dhaka, Bangladesh, last October.
However the National Sports Institute (NSI) chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Zabidi said it was not a supplement provided by the NSI but infact possibly taken on Kumar’s own accord.
"I have been made to understand from information received that he (Kumar) took slimming tea. But whether it is true or not cannot yet be ascertained,” he said when met earlier today.
When asked if there is a possibility that there were banned substances present in supplements provided by the NSI without being realized, Azim was quick to deny it.
"It is not true, sibutramine is not only in supplements … you all need to know that it is also used in slimming tea and this is not under our control.
"In the case of national wushu athlete, Tai Cheau Xuen, who tested positive for sibutramine at the 2014 Asian Games, it was caused by beauty products she had worn and applied.
Kumar, 38, tested positive during a dope test carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) while playing for Malaysia in the final 2017 Asia Cup group match against Oman on October 16.
However, what is baffling is the fact that Kumar, who hails from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, has come out by saying he only takes supplements provided by the NSI.
Following this incident, his name has been dropped from hockey training under the close observation of the Podium Programme beginning January 1.
However, Azim has assured that his side are open to welcoming Kumar back into the fold in the future while handing over to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) on whether to name his replacement or not.
"I just hope Kumar can remain as patient as possible. Even though we have had to omit him from the Podium Programme, it does not mean that we will not be open to taking him back.
"Now it is up to the MHC, as say if they do not name a replacement for Kumar and he is found to be innocent … Kumar can be absorbed straight for next year’s Commonwealth Games next April,” he said.
However the National Sports Institute (NSI) chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Zabidi said it was not a supplement provided by the NSI but infact possibly taken on Kumar’s own accord.
"I have been made to understand from information received that he (Kumar) took slimming tea. But whether it is true or not cannot yet be ascertained,” he said when met earlier today.
When asked if there is a possibility that there were banned substances present in supplements provided by the NSI without being realized, Azim was quick to deny it.
"It is not true, sibutramine is not only in supplements … you all need to know that it is also used in slimming tea and this is not under our control.
"In the case of national wushu athlete, Tai Cheau Xuen, who tested positive for sibutramine at the 2014 Asian Games, it was caused by beauty products she had worn and applied.
Kumar, 38, tested positive during a dope test carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) while playing for Malaysia in the final 2017 Asia Cup group match against Oman on October 16.
However, what is baffling is the fact that Kumar, who hails from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, has come out by saying he only takes supplements provided by the NSI.
Following this incident, his name has been dropped from hockey training under the close observation of the Podium Programme beginning January 1.
However, Azim has assured that his side are open to welcoming Kumar back into the fold in the future while handing over to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) on whether to name his replacement or not.
"I just hope Kumar can remain as patient as possible. Even though we have had to omit him from the Podium Programme, it does not mean that we will not be open to taking him back.
"Now it is up to the MHC, as say if they do not name a replacement for Kumar and he is found to be innocent … Kumar can be absorbed straight for next year’s Commonwealth Games next April,” he said.
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