KUALA LUMPUR: The number of doping cases among athletes was successfully reduced from 16 cases in 2014 to three this year, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this followed introduction of compulsory doping test before they participated in any international competition.
He said since 2014, the ministry had conducted thorough doping tests on athletes before any international sporting events.
"Under the approach, all athletes must undergo screening to ensure they are free from any illegal substances.
“The tests were carried out before the Sea Games 2015 in SIngapore and the recent Sea Games here.
"The Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (Adamas) collaborates with National Sports Institute to ensure athletes maintain a high discipline on their food intake.
"Every athlete is also required to provide a list of supplements and medicines to ensure that the ingredients do not have any illegal substances," he said.
Khairy was responding to a follow-up question from Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) during the minister's question and answer session.
Irmohizam wanted to know the early mechanism to identify athletes involved in doping and whether the ministry had any effective system to tackle the doping issue.
Khairy said Adamas had also carried out outreach programme where athletes could interact with anti-doping officers and sports nutritionists on supplement intake and other anti-doping issues.
"Through this, inadvertent doping cases can be avoided," he said, adding that athletes were being tested six times a year and obligated to inform their whereabouts for continuous monitoring.
Khairy also said the ministry had launched Real Champion programme for national athletes since the Asean Para Sea Games recently.
"This programme engages athletes aged 13 to 16 at the state-level, in collaboration with the Education Ministry as a comprehensive effort to eradicate doping activity," he added.