Facts
On 30th August 2014, Mr. Lee Chong Wei, was selected for doping control testing at the BWF World Championships in Copenhagen as a part of the BWF “in‐competition” testing program. The sample collection took place immediately after the athlete had won his semi‐final match. His sample tested positive on Dexamethasone, which is prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list of 2014. It is regarded as a specified substance.
History
The requested B sample analysis confirmed the findings of the A sample. The athlete requested a reanalysis of an earlier out-of-competition sample for the presence of Dexamethasone. The reason for this request was that he had become aware, that on 17 July 2014, when undergoing stem cell therapy for multiple injuries at the Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre, and while under anesthesia, Mr. Lee was administered Dexamethasone without his own knowledge. This analysis confirmed the presence of Dexamethanose.
However In the Panels opinion the most likely reason for the Adverse Analytical Finding was that the athlete had consumed Cordyseps capsules and that (one or more) of the gelatin capsule shells was contaminated with Dexamethasone. How the contamination occurred is not known for sure, but most likely it occurred during the process of grinding the raw Cordyseps into powder and putting this powdered Cordyseps into the gelatin capsules in the shop in Kuala Lumpur. Dexamethasone is not a performance‐enhancing substance. The Panel rules out the possibility that the athlete or his support team should have brought Dexamethasone into his system intentionally. The panel is convinced that this is not a case of doping with an intent to cheat. The defence has strongly argued that Lee Chong Wei was not at fault and was not negligent. In the opinion of the Panel, despite the arguments of the defence, Mr. Lee Chong Wei has been negligent. The Panel concluded that the athlete has established – on a balance of probability ‐ how Dexamethasone entered his body. The Anti‐Doping Rule Violation involves Dexamethasone, which is a Specified Substance. The athlete must establish to the comfortable satisfaction of the Hearing Panel the absence of intent to enhance the sport performance or mask the use of a performance‐enhancing substance. The Panel underlines that Lee Chong Wei did not know that by consuming the Cordyseps capsules, he also ingested Dexamthasone. He was negligent, but did not act with intent. When he did not know or realized that he had ingested a specified substance (Dexamethasone), he cannot have intended to enhance his sporting performance by the unwitting ingestion.
Decision
- The athlete is sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of eight months, commencing on August 30, 2014.
- His result in the BWF World Championship 2014 shall be disqualified and world ranking points forfeited.
- Results obtained between 30th August 2014 and 2nd October 2014 shall not be affected by the decision of the Panel.
- Each party shall bear its own legal costs and other expenses incurred in connection with this Doping Panel Hearing.
