JOHOR BARU, Dec 27 — Two weightlifting medal winners at the 2022 Malaysia Games (Sukma) were confirmed positive for the banned substance ‘anabolic androgenic steroid’ by the National Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas).

Without specifying the colour of the medals won, Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF/PABM) president Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the two male weightlifters were athletes from one of the two states that it had proposed to be suspended from participating in the biennial games held this year.

"PABM (Persekutuan Angkat Berat Malaysia) received the doping results through a letter from Adamas dated Dec 23. Both of them tested positive for steroid doping which is classified as S1 in the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

"Adamas has also sent a letter to the two athletes, whereby now they have 14 days to open the B sample before Jan 10 next year,” he said when contacted by Bernama this evening.

According to Ayub, if the two athletes decide to open Sample B, cost for testing will have to be borne by them at a price of US$350 (RM1,548) with the help of a laboratory in Doha, Qatar, in the presence of the athlete or the athlete’s representative.

If they do not intend to challenge Adamas’ decision through Sample B, Ayub said Adamas will then set a date for the two athletes to give an explanation.

"Both of them are now temporarily suspended. (However) the maximum punishment for an athlete (for this offence) is a (mandatory) suspension of four years. PABM takes seriously the case of doping in weightlifting, especially in the context of the development of this sport at the national and international level,” said Ayub.

He again reiterated his position that MWF did not get involved in running the 20th edition of Sukma (in Kuala Lumpur) because the organisers allowed the two states involved in doping (during pre-tournament screening) to participate in the games and did not respect MWF’s decision.

In a tone of disappointment, Ayub said that even though (weightlifting event in) Sukma took place, it was not recognised by MWF because the organisers did not agree with MWF’s stance to bar the two states from Sukma.

Previously, three weightlifters — two from Terengganu and one from Perlis — failed a doping test a few days before Sukma began in September.

Following the incident, MWF withdrew from the games after the organisers allowed the two states involved in doping to continue participating in the games. — Bernama