Two months after the Kuala Lumpur edition ended, a surprise SEA Games gold could be on the cards for Singapore after it was reported on Thursday (26 Oct) that Malaysian diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee has been identified as the athlete to have failed a doping test conducted at the 29th Games.
Wendy Ng’s B sample tested positive for sibutramine, a stimulant commonly found in slimming products but is on the banned list of substances by the World Anti Doping Agency, the Star newspaper reported.
Wendy Ng had partnered compatriot Nur Dhabitah Sabri to win the women’s 3m springboard synchro event. Singapore’s duo of Ashlee Tan and Fong Kay Yian were second and Indonesia’s Eka Purnama Indah and Linadini Yasmin were third.
With Wendy Ng’s disqualification, this means the Republic’s pairing of Ashlee Tan and Fong Kay Yian will be awarded the gold medal.
It will be Singapore’s first diving title since Sally Lim captured the women’s 3m springboard gold at the 1973 Games.
Wendy Ng also won gold in the 3m springboard individual event, ahead of Dhabitah and Ashlee Tan, both of whom will move up a spot on the podium.
Singapore had finished fourth in the overall medal standings in the Malaysian capital with 57 golds, one behind Vietnam. Overall champions Malaysia’s tally of 145 golds will drop to 144.
With an extra gold, Singapore would replace Vietnam in third position as Singapore had won more silver medals, 58, than Vietnam who bagged 50.
The Star also reported that Wendy Ng was New Delhi, India, two weeks ago to observe her B sample being opened and tested.
Sibutramine is listed in the S6 (specified stimulants) category under Wada’s code released in January this year.
The Star added that Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Mae Chen confirmed that it was notified of the B sample results on Thursday morning but would not comment further the association’s president president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was notified.
It is understood that the Singapore National Olympic Council has yet to receive official confirmation from the SEA Games Federation on the matter.
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