Malaysian shuttler's B sample to be tested in November

The B sample of a top Malaysian badminton player whose A sample had tested positive for dexamethasone, will be tested Nov 4 or 5, the country's leading newspaper The Star quoted sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin as saying Saturday.

Khairy said the international federation had given the national association the two dates to choose from to open the B sample which would be decided by the athlete, reports Xinhua.

"The international federation concerned has given Nov 4 and Nov 5 as the dates for the opening of the B sample. At this moment, the athlete has not made a decision," he said.

The report said that once the date is finalised, the athlete will be arranged to fly to Oslo to witness the opening of the B sample.

Khairy had confirmed Monday that an athlete from the country had tested positive for a banned substance but declined to reveal the name. Although the name of the athlete has not been revealed by any official statement, local media pointed fingers at World No.1 Lee Chong Wei.

According to The Star, it was learnt that the urine sample of Chong Wei was found to have traces of the banned substance dexamethasone during a test done after the semi-finals of the World Championships in Copenhagen.

The minister said he has been in touch with the athlete, adding that "the athlete is anxious, but that is expected". He said they are going through the athlete's recent medical history to see how the substance could be present.

Another Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times said that Chong Wei is believed to have not taken any medication or performance-enhancing drug during the World Championships.

However, he received a treatment at a medical centre here before the event during which he was injected with stem cells for a muscle injury, the report said, adding that in its infancy stage, the stem cells technology could very well be linked to the matter.