Their president, Ayub Rahmat, said both of them have been suspended from all activities, training and events pending the hearing process and outcome.

He also said that MWF will extend their full cooperation to the hearing panel and to the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) in the investigations.

“There will be no compromise with any athlete, coach or official involved in doping. The act of taking illegal substances will definitely create unhealthy competition and will eventually tarnish the image of the sport.

“MWF will also take additional action regarding this issue after the results of the full hearing and investigation are received,” he said in a statement today.

Ayub said the federation would continue to work together with Adamas in conducting anti-doping talks, workshops and courses as well as creating awareness.

Recently, Adamas director Azura Abidin said two national athletes who were undergoing training at the National Sports Council (NSC) tested positive for banned substances last June.

She did not disclose which sport was involved.

Azura also confirmed that both athletes had not asked for their ‘B’ samples to be tested and that the case was still at the decision management process.

“We are obligated to carry out our responsibility confidentially without any interference,” she said.

This is not the first time that weightlifting has been caught in a doping scandal as MWF were suspended for one year from April 1, 2020 from taking part in any International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) activities.

Their athletes were also barred from participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because of the doping issue.

MWF were also fined US$25,600 in 2019 because of doping involving four national athletes.

In 2018, MWF  also suspended Commonweatlh Games 2014 gold medal winner Hafifi Mansor for three years for doping while four-year suspensions were meted out to Fazrul Azrie Mohdad, Hakimie Haikal Nordin, Zaidi Nordin and Ronny Jesus.