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SINGAPORE: Six bodybuilders in Singapore could be suspended from competing, following a doping controversy at the National Championship on 20 April.
This was confirmed on Friday by the Singapore Bodybuilding Federation (SBBF), which issued them a notice of suspension.
SBBF has confirmed that four participants have failed their dope tests and two did not provide samples. All six face a two-year ban, if they do not contest the charges.
Richard Teng, President, Singapore Bodybuilding Federation, said: "We have given them the letters to inform them that they are positive, and they have 21 days to respond. So within this 21 days, if they don't come back with a response, we take it that they are guilty. We just serve them the letter to ban them."
Mr Teng added that according to ruling set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the accused bodybuilders cannot be named within this 21-day period.
SBBF said one of the bodybuilders was issued the notice on 1 May, while the other five received theirs on 6 May.
This means, if the accused chooses not to act, the earliest his name can be revealed is on 22 May.
The Singapore Sports Council backs the SBBF and applauds its commitment to wipe out the use of drugs in the sport.
OOn Jin Teik, CEO, Singapore Sports Council, said: "The current new Exco is taking bold steps to go after the so-called culprits through random testing. If there is this transparency willingness to do it, I think we have made major headway in progress."
The latest development comes as a surprise because the number of bodybuilders involved has increased significantly from the time news of the controversy broke.
Just two weeks after the national competition, Channel NewsAsia reported that two participants had missed the compulsory doping tests.
The SBBF had earlier confirmed that the pair could not produce urine samples even after a four-hour wait.
SBBF added that the pair then left the premises without permission and it could not contact them since then.
Channel NewsAsia managed to get in touch with one of the bodybuilders and he denied leaving without permission. But he said he is not contesting the ban as he is quitting the sport.
It's not clear what the next course of action will be for the other five bodybuilders who've been served a notice of suspension.
After the latest saga, SBBF also said it is looking at various measures to clean up the sport. - CNA/vm
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