Foul!

MAF officials met Sports Commissioner Zaiton Othman on December 18 and it was decided that the Sports Commissioner's Office will notify the authorities, including police and local councils, to only approve runs that are supported by either the state associations or the national federation and the Sports Commissioner's Office. This was from my article following the Klang marathon episode, which appeared on the landing page of  Channel NewsAsia's sports section  today. Following the Klang incident, several good initiatives were introduced. But .... Why: 1. No one has asked the police why did they approve a run that is 'illegal' based on the Sports Development Act 1997? 2. Many other runs which have not been approved or listed by the Sports Commissioner's Office, as seen on the Youth and Sports Ministry's website , continue to take place? They include:   i. Bentong Half Marathon which was launched by Transport Minister and Bentong MP Liow Tio...

As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol and May Robertson mmnews@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — Athletics is in danger of being airbrushed from the 2017 SEA Games if Malaysia stands firm in dropping five traditional events. Thailand Athletics Association chief operating officer Major General Surapong Ariyamongkol told Malay Mail the Asian Athletics Association would not give its approval if marathon, 10,000m, 3,000 steeplechase, decathlon and heptathlon were axed from the bi-annual Games.  Ariyamongkol said this matter was raised during the two-day 84th Asian AA meeting in Doha on Feb 17 and 18.  “Representatives from several Southeast Asian nations spoke to (Asian AA secretary) Maurice Nicholas about the matter and he was unhappy the events were not considered.  “He told us the Asian AA will not approve the SEA Games athletics calendar if the organisers went ahead with the reduced list of events. “The organisers cannot simply drop t...

As published in Malay Mail today. By G. Prakash prakash@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The shooting incident involving former national hurdler Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majid could be linked to his recent appointment as Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) vice-president. Insiders claim Noorul has been at odds with several officials since 2012 after he secured a position in the Johor Amateur Athletics Association, which eventually gave him a ticket to contest in the MAF elections last month. Noorul survived a drive-by shooting in front of his house in Bandar Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on Wednesday after two men on a red motorcycle fired several shots at him. He was shot twice in his right leg during the 10pm incident. Sungai Buloh police chief Supt Junaidi Bujang confirmed the incident, adding police found four 9mm bullet shells across the road in front of the victim’s house. He said police are investigating all angles to trace the assailants. A source revealed MAF pre...

Dear Zainal Abidin Ahmad , Allow me to first congratulate you for being appointed as the new Malaysian Athletic Federation (MAF) president. It must have been a joyous moment for you when you were named as the new chief for the national body, replacing former Perlis MB Shahidan Kassim, during the AGM yesterday. I'm sure you will still continue to receive SMSes and phone calls congratulating you over your new role throughout today. I certainly do not wish to dampened your mood but as you know by now, there is a lot of work to be done to elevate the national athletics scene. Some have expressed that they are rather surprised with your line up. Wan Hisham Wan Salleh obtained 25 votes to boot Karim Ibrahim (19 votes) out from the deputy president's post while several familiar names continue to warm their seats within the organisation. Yet, many insist that your appointment is a breath of fresh air. I do not wish to ridicule your predecessor or his set of officials. The...

Yunus and several coaches and athletes said in a sworn statement that MAU deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim had arranged for a Bulgarian doctor to provide him with “pills that could help me win gold at the SEA Games". That was taken from The Star in February. The Bulgarian doctor, Gueorgui Ananiev Baldjiysky, had in a sworn translated letter dated March 23, 2012 refuted the claims by relay runner Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, who failed a dope test after winning gold at the Indonesia SEA Games. Below is the translated letter by Gueorgui as produced to the investigation panel headed by former Court of Appeal judge VC George. Dear sir, Allegations Made Against Dato' Karim Ibrahim I refer to your letter dated 20-2-2012 and thank you very much. I have read the allegation which you wrote in your letter and in the internet as well. First I would like to say that I met the athletes and the team coach Harun (Rasheed) in Sliven, Bulgaria in May until August ...

Through a mutual friend, Malaysian Athletics Federation deputy president Karim Ibrahim and I were suppose to meet over a cup of coffee. Karim did send me an SMS, telling me he has to attend to an ailing family member and will meet up as soon as he sorts his stuff out weeks ago. I'm still waiting for his call. I was also told Karim has been asked not to speak to the Media.  But the silence is not helping him and the federation at all. National sprinter Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaluddin is the latest to lash out at Karim for turning his back on the six athletes who skipped drug tests last year. "When we were given warnings after the investigation and coach (Harun) banned for a year, I thought the matter was closed. "Now Wada is coming after us and we are all worried that we might not be able to run again. And it is not as if we did it on purpose. "We were told not to take the tests. I was on the phone with Karim at the time and he told us not to tak...

"MAU to investigate source of leaked report" That was the sub-header of Devinder Singh's report ' Karim faces another inquiry ' in today's NST. The federation, had in its recent meeting, apparently discussed how the 'investigative report on six national athletes who skipped dope tests last year was leaked to the media on Thursday'. It is claimed that only three individuals - the president Shahidan Kassim, deputy president Karim Ibrahim and vice president R.Annamalai - were the only ones with the report. It is shocking that instead of spending time addressing the contents of the report, the national body prefers to waste time finding out who leaked the report to the Media. What is more important? Addressing the fact that athletes have been advised to "use someone else's urine sample" and and are supplied with "pink and red pills" and "herbal pills"? Or the itch to search for the the person who leaked the report (which...

I got my hands on a copy of the letter and report of the "Investigative Interview of Athletes who did not attend Out of Competition Urine Test by the National Sports Institute (NSI)" on the six sprinters that missed the test on May 24, 2011. Here are the facts; 1. Six athletes missed anti-dope test on May 24, 2011. 2. Interview session only conducted some four months later. 3. Panel chairman wrote to Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) president Shahidan Kassim on Sept 27, 2011 (with detailed report of interview attached). 4. Sprinters confessed their coach (Harun Rasheed) had asked them to "bring someone else's urine for the medical test." 5. Sprinters confessed having asked to take "herbal pills" supplied by a former national athlete. 6. One of the runners confessed having met Harun at the NSI car park at noon on May 24. Harun claimed he was only with the athletes until 9am and left for "Menara Maybank to sort out his daughter's wedding pre...

"Karim also told me to take the pills, which he said were very expensive. I was also given injections two or three times a week. The doctor informed me that they were B complex shots for recovery after training. Karim asked me not to tell anyone, including coach K. Jayabalan, about the pills. However, I fell ill after receiving two injections and could not train for a few days. I told coach Jayabalan about the injections and he was angry with me." That was the stunning admission by national relay runner Yunus Lasaleh ( pic ) who failed a dope test after winning gold at the Indonesia SEA Games last year as published in The Star and NST today. Sprints coach Hamberi Mahad handed Malaysia Athletic Union president Shahidan Kassim a petition signed by 16 coaches and 42 athletes containing damning allegations on doping and a call to remove his deputy president Karim Ibrahim. Although Shahidan expressed "shock" over the petition, one cannot help but wonder if the ...

The drama used to be between Malaysian Athletic Union deputy president Karim Ibrahim and National Sports Council director general Zolkples Embong. Now there is a sideshow between Karim and former national chief coach Harun Rasheed. Harun claimed " he acted on the orders of Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim in telling his athletes to run from drug testers last May." But " Karim denied Harun's allegation and said he did not tell the coach to do anything. "No, I did not say that to him," said Karim in a text message when asked to comment." Read the full report in today's NST . HD says: Another Bollywood flick brought to you by MAU TV.

Could the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union set a precedent to other sports associations in the country? Read the Press statement below; JOINT VENTURE OF MALAYSIA AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION / NATIONAL SPORTS INSTITUTE (ISN) TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH JUNIOR AND ELITE ATHLETES TOWARDS PREPARATION FOR MAJOR COMPETITIONS It has been clearly indicated openly by YBhg Dato Zolkples Embong the Director General of National Sports Council of Malaysia that he cannot work with MAAU in particular with Mr. Karim Ibrahim the Deputy President, citing various reasons in the local electronic and written media continuously. Numerous forms of approaches had been made indirectly through the MAAU President YB Dato Seri’ Shahidan Kassim as well as sports enthusiast to amicably solve this ongoing fiasco, but unfortunately all the efforts turned futile. Since it is realized that we are already at a dead end in seeking a solution on this matter, and that MAAU being the Association partly re...