Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Deputy President Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria is in the midst of ensuring that all Malaysian athletes are clean and free from any form of banned substances before they head off for the SEA Games that will be held in Singapore.
This time round, the SEA Games will feature a new rule; making it compulsory for competing athletes to take a blood test before the competition to ensure that they are free from drugs.
Malaysia will be sending about 800 athletes to compete in the games, which will be held between the 5th and 16th of June and Datuk Mohammad Norza is keen to avoid any further controversy, after Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s doping scandal last year.
“This is the first time that drug tests are being done; 20 percent of the test will be for anti doping and it won’t only be urinary tests,” he told Utusan Malaysia.
“The athletes have to be aware of their dietary intake from now on, especially in terms of food and supplements”
To aid them in doing so, the athletes will be given a handbook containing comprehensive information regarding their dietary intake, so they can take extra precautions and not use it as an excuse should they fail the test.
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