KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) has pledged to introduce more initiatives aimed at educating track-and-field athletes on banned substances to prevent their involvement in doping cases.
Its president, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, said that the initiative would primarily focus on young athletes, especially those participating in this year’s Sukma scheduled to take place in Sarawak.
“We have been conducting these programmes for years, but we will continue to expand this awareness because athletes must understand what they can and cannot consume before and after competitions.
“Some athletes, especially the younger ones, tend to purchase items online without thoroughly examining the ingredients, and this is the behaviour we are attempting to change.
“Our athletes need to be responsible for what they consume, and there is no use in regretting when caught red-handed for using harmful substances.
“In addition to athletes, we will also ensure that coaches monitor their athletes under all circumstances. Coaches should also be accountable for their athletes’ food intake,” said Shahidan at the 2024 Malaysian Athletics Awards in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Last week, the national anti-doping body, Adamas, announced a two-year ban on a high-jump athlete for using prohibited substances during the MAF Track and Field Championships in February last year.
The banned substance found in the athlete’s sample was a class S.6 stimulant – sibutramine.
In a statement, Adamas declared that the substance used by the athlete violated the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Code.
Adamas has also granted the athlete an opportunity to submit a written appeal by January 24, and MAF has confirmed that it will assist in facilitating the appeal process for the athlete.
In a council meeting scheduled for next week, MAF will decide on the amount of funds it plans to allocate for its state affiliates’ track-and-field athlete development programmes.
The 21st edition of Sukma is scheduled for August 17 to 24 this year, with Sarawak hosting the prestigious event for the third time, following its first in 1990 and the second in 2016.
Originally slated for July 2020 in Johor, the 20th edition was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ultimately being held by the National Sports Council in September 2022.
This year’s Sukma is expected to feature a total of 431 events. – January 15, 2024