Top Brunei cyclist banned for 2 years after positive drug test

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-2-16 12:01:45

Top national cyclist Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz has been banned for two years from " competition and sports activity" for failing a drug test, according to the Brunei Darussalam Anti-Doping Committee (BDADC) on Sunday.

The punishment was imposed by BDADC, a government-backed organization in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, after he tested positive for anabolic steroids, said a press release by BDADC.

BDADC Disciplinary Panel acting on the advice of the BDADC Results Management Committee, decided to ban Md Raihaan for two year, effective immediately from January 25, 2014 until January 24, 2016.

He also has to forfeit any awards, medals or prize-money he won after failing the doping test. BDADC confirmed that an out-of- competition doping control test organized by the Southeast Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SEARADO), through the BDADC, was conducted on Brunei athletes for the 27th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games 2013 in Myanmar.

Ten athletes were randomly selected in adherence to the strict guidelines set by SEARADO for out-of-competition testing.

However, according to the Brunei Times on Sunday, Md Raihaan has denied taking any banned substances, putting the blame on " unfamiliar" supplements.

Raihaan, who has been the country's most successful cyclist for years, said "It was my mistake that I bought supplements which I'm unfamiliar with and it was my fault for not consulting coach ( Yafiz Jamaludin) before buying them".

Posted in: Miscellany

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