AMSTERDAM is where Lee Chong Wei will finally know his fate after failing a dope test in August.
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said the Badminton World Federation (BWF) had written to the BA of Malaysia (BAM), confirming the anti-doping hearing will be held in Amsterdam on Dec 8.
BAM, however, has requested to postpone it to a later date following the advice of England based lawyer Mike Morgan, who is still finalising his fact finding for a stronger defence.
“Datuk Norza (Zakaria), who is also chairing the working committee for the case, told me that the appointed lawyer had written to BWF requesting for the hearing to be postponed as they needed to prepare a more in depth case to defend Chong Wei,” Khairy said at a pre-trial Malaysia Youth Parliament event.
Khairy also added that BAM has yet to receive any response from BWF on whether or not it is agreeable with the request.
Norza, however, when contacted in Jakarta confirmed that it will be based on a mutual agreement, and a new date for the hearing will be decided in the coming week.
“Yes, the hearing will take place in Amsterdam, but the new date will be based on mutual agreement. BWF knows that we won’t rush the hearing if we are not prepared,” said Norza, who is also BAM’s deputy president.
“We (BAM) are expecting to hear of the new date by this week and we will come out with a press statement once we have confirmed all the details.
Chong Wei, who tested positive for the banned substance dexamethasone at the World Championships in Copenhagen, has been provisionally suspended from competing in all tournaments by BWF.
The World No 1 faces a maximum two-year ban, or could be let off with a lighter punishment, all of which to be known after the hearing.