Malaysian weightlifter suspended by IWF for doping offence

Olympian Mohd Hafifi Mansor has been provisionally suspended for allegedly using a banned steroid.

KUALA LUMPUR: Olympian Mohd Hafifi Mansor has been provisionally suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for an alleged doping offence.

The international body stated that the sample he returned had an Adverse Analytical Finding for Oxymetholone, a synthetic, potent anabolic-androgenic steroid.

“In any case, where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed,” IWF posted on its official website, www.iwf.net.

Meanwhile,Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (Adamas) deputy director S. Nishel Kumar confirmed the suspension.

“It is too early to comment on the matter…We will liaise with the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF),” he said.

Nishel Kumar said Adamas was informed of the doping violation by the IWF on Oct 11.

“We were asked to determine if the athlete concerned accepted the result or wish to challenge it. We will help the MWF to resolve the matter,” he added.

He is believed to have failed the doping test in March.

The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who also featured at the Rio Olympics last year, missed the KL 2017 SEA Games believed due to a torn ligament on his right leg suffered during training in Jinzhou, China.

Hafifi is considered as a gold medal hope for Malaysia at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. -FMT