PUTRAJAYA: The Youth and Sports Ministry will look into the cyber threats sent to men's singles shuttler Soong Joo Ven recently.
Its Minister Hannah Yeoh said the Safe Sports Code also covered cyber bullying, as experienced by Joo Ven after he crashed out in the qualifying round of the Spain Masters in Madrid last week.
"The Safe Sports Code is to create a safe environment, it covers online threats. We have not discussed it yet with the safeguarding officer of this case, I did not even know about this case.
"But we will study it after this. We will list out ways to facilitate (athletes) to make complaints… if there is a criminal aspect, the police will investigate," she told a media conference in Putrajaya today.
Joo Ven, 27, received criticisms on his social media accounts when the world No. 51 failed to make the first round of the tournament proper after losing 21-19, 27-29, 16-21 to Denmark's Magnus Johannesen in a qualifying round match on March 28.
The code is a guideline for a safe sports environment that emphasises the roles and responsibilities of all parties in dealing with any form of harassment and abuse.
Meanwhile, Yeoh expects her ministry to receive more complaints once there is greater awareness about the Safe Sports Code.
"This is not necessarily bad, because we have an awareness now. Perhaps, new or old cases, because there is awareness, athletes will know what is wrong (after understanding the code). We must ensure athletes and coaches know the laws," she said. - Bernama