Wushu athletes need to be wary of supplements

KUALA LUMPUR: National Wushu athletes have been advised to be extra cautious when taking any additional supplements to avoid getting embroiled in another doping controversy and mar the image of the national contingent at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia this August.
Wushu Malaysia vice-chairman Wong Kim Swee stressed that the athletes should refer to the National Sports Institute (ISN) if they were taking any supplements.
Four years ago, Malaysia's first gold medal through Tai Cheau Xuen was revoked, when the athlete tested positive for sibutramine during the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
"Our athletes need to be more vigilant this time because four years ago, one of our athletes was found positive for doping. The athlete concerned is not taking part in the Asian Games this time because she has retired for personal reasons. Her last tournament was the SEA Games last year," he told reporters after submitting the list of athletes' names to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Selection Committee here, today.
A total of 11 athletes were listed, however, only seven would be selected in June, ahead of the Asian Games.
Wong said the national body was targeting medals in the Men's Changquan and Women's Nanquan events and had named Wong Weng Son, Yeap Wai Kin, Loh Jack Chang, and Diana Bong among the medal prospects at the Asian Games.
Weng Son and the women's trio of Phoon Eyin, Loh Ying Ting and Tan Cheong Min are the most outstanding wushu athletes in the squad, as the former won the gold medal in the Jianshu event, and the trio in the Duilian event at the 14th World Wushu Championships in Kazan, October last year.
"The athletes will practise in China and Japan for 45 days between March and May. The athletes competing in Indonesia this time will be stronger than in Incheon, South Korea. I am confident that with the athletes' achievements last year, the opportunity to win medals is very bright," added Wong. — Bernama