KUALA LUMPUR: A former national mountain bike (MTB) has been cleared of sexual harassment allegation levelled against him by a national athlete.
In April, a female national MTB rider lodged a police report over an alleged incident during a training session.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) swiftly suspended the coach from the mountain bike cycling squad, who were preparing for the Phnom Penh Sea Games,
The coach subsequently resigned from the national team as the authorities and MNCF were still investigating the alleged incident.
However, his ordeal came to an end after the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Chambers did not charge the coach for any wrongdoing following a police investigation.
The deputy public prosecutor was formally informed via a letter, dated Nov 23, by Putrajaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner A. Asmadi Abdul Aziz.
MNCF acting deputy president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill confirmed the decision, but said the cycling body will still conduct its own hearing.
"The coach is cleared based on police investigations. We received the letter from the police last week," said Amarjit.
"We will now have our own disciplinary hearing to do the necessary as the police have completed their investigation. We will listen to both concerned. The findings during the police investigation will carry some weight."
"We hope to do this in the opening two weeks next month."
The coach could be banned from any cycling activities if found guilty by MNCF.
Amarjit said it's still too early to speculate whether the coach would return to the national team.
"Let us do the necessary first. We will conduct our hearing and decide on the next course of action. We cannot comment too much without conducting our investigation," he added.