Internal probe into loss of Paralympic gold medal complete

Internal probe into loss of Paralympic gold medal complete

Committee investigating the circumstances that led to Ziyad Zolkepli's disqualification says the full report will be ready next week.

Despite breaking the world record, Ziyad Zolkepli saw his gold medal-winning feat in the shotput ruled out on a technicality. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR:
The internal investigation into the disqualification of national shot putter Ziyad Zolkefli in the F20 (intellectual impairment) category at the recently-concluded Tokyo Paralympics has been completed.

Investigation committee chairman Borhan Dolah said they are now preparing the full report, which is expected to be completed next week.

“What I can conclude is that the investigation on Monday and Tuesday went smoothly. All 10 individuals called up cooperated very well in assisting with our probe.

“We are satisfied with the evidence provided by them and no more individuals will be called up after this. All the information obtained is enough for us to prepare the report, which is expected to be ready next week,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Among those called up to assist in the committee’s investigation were Ziyad, his coach  Faizol Harun and Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) president Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin.

Borhan, who is a former Public Service Department (JPA) director-general, expects their findings, including the report, to be submitted to the youth and sports ministry by the end of this month.

He said that once the report was submitted, he would meet youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu at a suitable date to explain in detail their investigation, including recommendations for further action to be taken and to clarify any doubts that arise.

If the ministry is not satisfied with the investigation, Borhan assured that they would be ready to carry out further investigations into the matter.

On Aug 31, Ziyad was denied the gold medal in the men’s F20 shot put event. His throw of a distance of 17.94m was also a new world record for the event.

He was classified as Did Not Start (DNS) following a protest lodged by Ukraine, who claimed that Ziyad was late to enter the call room.

Ukraine’s Maksym was then announced as the gold medallist with a throw of 17.34m, breaking Ziyad’s world record of 17.29m that he had set at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.

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