MALAYSIAN Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ong Poh Eng has claimed that issues surrounding the sport recently are part of a plot to tarnish his reputation ahead of the national body’s elections.
Poh Eng said the questions raised by former national lifter Firdaus Abdul Razak, who failed a dope test at the 2011 Indonesia Sea Games, were baseless.
Referring to the RM45,000 in doping fines paid by the national body last year, Firdaus had queried the necessity of paying the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) when not asked to.
He had also questioned the validity of his suspension as his name did not appear on the list of IWF sanctioned athletes.
“When I first became the MWF president, I received a letter from the IWF stating that we would be banned if we did not pay up fines for three doping cases that happened in 2009, 2010 and 2011,” said Poh Eng on Wednesday.
“They are (the fines) for three other athletes and not Firdaus. They are genuine cases and I have proof in the forms of letters and bank wire receipts.
“If we did not pay up, our athletes would not be able to compete in any international competitions.
“I paid the fines with my own money first and three months later, the National Sports Council reimbursed RM30,000.
“I do not know why he (Firdaus) is not on the IWF-sanctioned list as I was not yet involved in the association then (2011).
“It is up to the Sea Games Federation to report to the world body when an athlete has failed a test at the Sea Games.
“However, once you fail a dope test, you should know it is an automatic ban. You do not need a letter to know that.”
The three offenders named in the IWF letter addressed to former president Zafarul Akbar Kassim are Mohd Saufik Ahmad (2009 Commonwealth Championships), Zuraini Che Rose (2010 IWF Grand Prix) and Raihan Yusoff (2011 World Championships).
Poh Eng, who is also an IWF vice president, said he knew who was pulling the strings behind the scene.
“I feel very sad that people have tried to accuse me of corruption when in fact, I had used my own money to save us from being banned.
“This whole episode is just meant to damage my reputation with the elections coming.
“They did the same thing to Zafarul and are now trying to do the same to me.
“Instead of playing such politics, I hope the person will come and talk to me. If the individual wants to be the president, I do not mind letting go.”
Poh Eng, who defeated Zafarul at the last elections in December 2012, said a board meeting will be held on Dec 10 in conjunction with the National Championships in Sabah where the date of the next annual general meeting-cum-elections will be decided. By Fadhli Ishak