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Nov 4 is his D-Day

Tuesday will be D-Day for Lee Chong Wei when his B sample is tested for banned substance in a laboratory in Norway.

The World No 1 will fly to Norway with National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz on Sunday and both will be present during the test. It is learnt that his urine sample will be tested for dexamethasone.

Dexamethasone is not a performance-enhancing drug but a type of steroid medication with anti-inflammatory effects that is usually used to aid an athlete’s rehabilitation.

Chong Wei, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday after a long holiday overseas, was allegedly tested positive for the substance after his semi-final win over Denmark’s Victor Axelsen at the World Championships in Copenhagen in August.

“Chong Wei is nervous and upset. Hopefully we will get some good news,” said a source yesterday.
“Chong Wei and Dr Ramlan will be present when the former’s urine sample, which is stored in Norway, is tested... likely on Tuesday. Of course, he will check whether the container of his stored urine is properly sealed as required by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

“It will be an anxious wait for Chong Wei as it will take between two and three hours before the result is released to him.”

According to a NSI official, dexamenthasone can only be detected between 36 and 108 hours after consumption.

In Chong Wei’s case, the substance may have been injected into his body not later than four days before his semi-final match in Copenhagen. But only a qualified doctor can prescribe the drug.
“There is no way he could have injected the substance into his body in Copenhagen. There must have been a doctor,” said the official.

However, it could be a result of the stem cells treatment during rehabilitation in July using the controlled release method to help Chong Wei recover from a hamstring injury. If he can come up with evidence that the reason of the positive result was due to stem cells treatment, he could get away with a lighter sentence.



By AJITPAL SINGH  - NST

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