Malaysian Olympic track hopeful faces lengthy doping ban
Despite delay in his federation realising an offence had been committed, track rider Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom will now face a ban
An Asian track cyclist who has been tipped as a future Olympian track star faces an 18 month doping ban.
Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom tested positive for the banned substance dexamethasone at last June's Malaysia Games - but the Mayalsian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) only realised the 20-year-old had doped in February.
Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory substance that can be used outside of competition and under prescription with a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) forms, but it is illegal to use during competition.
An investigation was launched but another is set to take place, at the request of Malaysia's youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin, because of a series of questionable answers in defence of Mohd Shah.
The cyclist, who won the gold medal in the men's 200m sprint final at the competition and then clocked 10.586 seconds in the sprint event at the Hong Kong International Cup in November, claims that the substance must have entered his body via an injection he received at the Asian Championships, held in Kazakhstan's capital city Astana, by a National Sports Institute (NIS) medic.
>>> Greg Van Avermaet facing possibility of two-year ban after doping hearing
Mohd Shah will meet with MNCF's anti doping committee on May 9 for an appeal hearing but it is expected that the 18-month ban will be upheld. The cyclist has been told to bring all witnesses to the injection to the appeal, including the doctor.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"He can't pinpoint how the substance could have been consumed apart from the injection. This is why I have asked for another report, for NSI to go deeper into this and to find out more," Mr Jamaluddin said.
MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamed said earlier this year that "Mohd Shah is a good track cyclist and was even tipped to replace Olympian Azizulhasni (Awang)".
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
Zwift extends free Play Controllers worth $99 with all eligible Zwift Smart Trainer purchases until Monday 14th October
Deals Zwift is celebrating ten years of virtual cycling and everyone's invited
By Paul Brett Published
-
I'm about to turn 40 - how can I keep riding fast?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
By Charlie Graham-Dixon Published