The BWF said Lee was ‘negligent’, but the degree of negligence was ‘rather light’ as ‘he did not realise he had ingested the substance.
Amsterdam : Former world number one Lee Chong Wei has been banned for eight months by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for doping. The Malaysian tested positive for the drug dexamethasone during the World Championships in August. But Lee, who has been suspended since November last year, will be able to compete again May 1 after the ban was backdated.
The BWF said Lee was “negligent”, but the degree of negligence was “rather light” as “he did not realise he had ingested a specified substance (Dexamethasone)”. “The panel is convinced this is not a case of doping with intent to cheat,” the BWF said in a statement. Lee was provisionally suspended in November last year and therefore barred temporarily from participating in any competition, till a decision was made. —IANS