OLYMPIC Council of Asia (OCA) medical committee and anti-doping commission chairman Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan said athletes caught for doping are increasingly ignorant of what drug items are prohibited.
Speaking about two athletes — a Tajikistan footballer and a Cambodian soft tennis player — who had tested positive at the Asian Games earlier, Jegathesan does not believe there was an intention to cheat.
Malaysian wushu gold medallist Tai Cheau Xuen was the third athlete to fail a dope test in Incheon.
“Of the two tests that we’ve declared here so far (before Cheau Xuen’s case), both come from substances they took, thinking they are supplements or energy drinks.
“I don’t think there was ever intention to use this to cheat,” said the former Malaysian track star.
Jegathesan said doping cases generally fall into three broad categories.
“The first is the innocent athlete, who unknowingly takes a prohibited substance like picking up an energy drink off the shelf.
“The second is the victim, and you’d be surprised that there are many cases in this instance when the athlete’s entourage has grand designs of glory.
“The third is the hardcore drug cheat who has studied the subject of doping and is more knowledgeable than most on this subject.”