Even as the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) battle to clean up their tainted sport, they assure that development work and competitions will not be neglected.
MWF are in the midst of discussion with the National Sports Council (NSC) on disbanding the national team after two weightlifters tested positive for performance-enhancing anabolic steroids recently.
MWF president Datuk Ayub Rahmat, whose federation are "resetting" the national team with clean and disciplined athletes, said there are several competitions coming up, and they would be a build-up for next year's Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
On MWF's itinerary is the Asian Championships in November, and the International Championships in Tashkent in December, which also serve as a Commonwealth Games qualifying competition.
"We have been discussing with NSC on the disbandment of the current national team. But at the same time, there are athletes who are preparing for competitions," said Ayub.
"We have submitted a list of athletes capable of winning medals at these competitions, but the places are limited due to the Covid pandemic.
"We hope that the athletes selected for the competitions will be able to do well, and don't waste the opportunity to build their form to win medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games."
MWF have wrestled with doping problems in recent years, and no less than seven doping cases have been recorded over the last five years.
In a bid to tackle the problem, MWF imposed a "voluntary' one year ban on all their lifters from 2018-2019. Malaysia were also banned for five months by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) last year due to the high number of doping violations.
Ayub said MWF will be extra careful in ensuring that the national lifters stay away from doping.
"We will make sure that our preparation this time will not be affected by doping issues. These athletes have the potential to deliver medals for the national team.
"All of them will have to attend anti-doping seminars and workshops organised by the IWF and Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia."