The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Finger costs India's Kohli half of match fee
- Shabery to use his power to deal with irresponsible associations
- Naim: Severe punishment for those found guilty
| Finger costs India's Kohli half of match fee Posted: 04 Jan 2012 06:48 PM PST SYDNEY, (Reuters): India batsman Virat Kohli was fined half of his match fee on Thursday for responding to barracking from the crowd by gesturing at them with his middle finger on day two of the second test against Australia. India spent all day in the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, taking just one wicket as the Australian batsmen ran rampant and put themselves in a good position to go 2-0 up in the series. Kohli, fielding at the boundary for much of the day, tweeted that he had been sorely provoked before responding with the finger gesture. "I agree cricketers dont have to retaliate. What when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. The worst I've heard," he posted on his twitter page (twitter.com/imvkohli). India team spokesman GS Walia told reporters on Thursday that match referee Ranjan Madugalle had fined Kohli 50 percent of his match fee for the offense. The player had pleaded guilty and was sorry for his action, Walia added. The four-match series has so far been played largely in a good spirit, in stark contrast with the 2008 Sydney test which was marred by accusations that India spinner Harbhajan Singh had racially abused Australia's Andrew Symonds. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Shabery to use his power to deal with irresponsible associations Posted: 04 Jan 2012 06:44 PM PST PUTRAJAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has taken a swipe at two sports associations for their lack of urgency in handling the positive dope test of their athletes. Shabery slammed the Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) and Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF) yesterday for not requesting for the B sample to be tested after their respective athletes. The two athletes tested positive for a banned substance during the SEA Games in Indonesia in November. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) received a letter from the Indonesia SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) on Dec 21 stating that a gold medallist from the athletics team and a bronze medallist from the weightlifting team had failed their doping tests, which were carried out randomly during the Games. OCM immediately notified the MAU and MWF about the matter but neither took any steps to defend their athletes, preferring instead to remain silent. When the appeal period ended, Inasoc decided to go ahead and test the B sample to verify their earlier findings. The result for the B sample will be known next week. Shabery said he would not hesitate to use his power to check the lackadaisical attitude of the associations. "I was shocked with the news of our athletes failing the doping tests. But what irked me most was the lack of reaction from both the associations. There was neither any statement nor stand to defend their athletes. Their silence only fuelled speculation," said Shabery. "Was it the mistake of the coach or the athletes? All of us want an answer. I hope the associations will be more responsible. They should have shown more urgency to demand for the B sample to be tested and not just keep quiet about it. "I take this (matter) very seriously. If I find that the associations have erred, I will not hesitate to use the power vested in me to take action." When told that the associations themselves were probably unsure of the proper procedure, Shabery replied curtly: "Ignorance is no excuse. "No one should take up a post in an association and not know the rules and procedures. They can always consult the OCM, NSC (National Sports Council) and NSI (National Sports Institute). For goodness sake, they received the letter on Dec 21 ... this gave them ample time to seek advice." Shabery was particularly concerned with the MAU, whose athletes were embroiled in a doping controversy last year. Instead of participating in a random dope test, the athletes "ran off" to Bulgaria and the coaches defended the move by saying that they were pressed for time. "They had 1,000 excuses for missing the test. Now, this happens with the same association. We can ignore the first incident as a mistake. Now that it is happening again, it raises suspicion," said Shabery. "If these athletes are found guilty, somebody has to be held responsible. Is it just the athletes? Did anyone give them instructions? Or is it the coaches? Who selected the coaches? Someone must be held accountable. "Right now, we are in the speculation stage and I pray that the B sample test will return negative. But if it is positive, then it will be a sad day for Malaysian sport. "And I won't tolerate this anymore." If the athletes are found guilty of taking the banned substance, their medals will be revoked and they will have to return the cash incentives given by the government during a special ceremony graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Naim: Severe punishment for those found guilty Posted: 04 Jan 2012 02:10 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: A crying shame! That was the first reaction of Malaysia's chef-de-mission for the SEA Games, Datuk Naim Mohd, when asked about two of our athletes being tested positive for a banned substance during the Games in November, The athletes' B samples are being tested and Malaysia will have to relinquish one gold medal and one bronze medal if the results from the second samples are the same. It is learnt that the gold medal came from athletics and the bronze from weightlifting. The outcome of the B samples will be known in a week. At the Games, Malaysian athletes did the country proud by defying the vociferous and fanatical local supporters to rake in a medal haul of 59-50-81, finishing fourth overall behind Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Naim said that he only found out about the doping recently although a letter regarding the act was sent to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in December. "It is disappointing that our athletes have been tested positive for a banned substance. We have given the athletes, coaches and officials ample warning to watch what they take and to be aware of what they consume. And now, we have to greet the New Year with this sad news," said Naim. "Hopefully, the B sample will turn out to be negative." If found guilty, Naim wants those involved to be severely punished. "And I am not only talking about the athletes. The coaches and the associations should also face the music. Coaches should have direct information of what their athletes consume and the associations should be responsible for their athletes," he said. "This is a bad start to an important year for Malaysian sports, with the Olympic Games looming. This tarnishes the sport's image." OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said that they received a letter from Inasoc (Indonesia SEA Games Organising Committee) on Dec 21 and that they immediately informed the Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) and the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF). "When I got the letter, I informed only two people – Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan (chairman of anti-doping agency of Malaysia) and OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar. However, the news spread. I am not in a position to reveal the identity of these athletes," said Kok Chi. "In most cases, the athletes are innocent. Sometimes, these athletes may have consumed vitamins or medication that may have contained the banned substance. "We need to create more awareness on doping issues and send out clear messages to coaches and officials if they are involved too." Meanwhile, Kok Chi said that two things could happen if the B samples were positive. The associations would be informed of the result and it would be the prerogative of the association to take the necessary disciplinary actions. Secondly, Malaysia will have to give up the gold and bronze medals won by the two athletes. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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