SOMETIMES it just doesn’t pay to be outspoken on social media. Just ask two-time Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts (MIMMA) champion Mirage Khan.
The Malaysian Sambo Association (Sambo Malaysia) have suspended him for misconduct.
This means that even if the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) give the Malaysian Sambo Association the green light to compete in the Philippines Sea Games later this year, Mirage will be staying home.
In an official statement shared exclusively with Timesport, Sambo Malaysia disclosed that numerous complaints had been made against Mirage for his remarks on social media.
Sambo Malaysia pointed out that Mirage should not have posted them as they were his personal views and not the association’s.
Following a disciplinary board meeting on Sunday, it was unanimously decided that Mirage be dropped from the squad.
“We hope he will learn his lesson and respect all authorities,” read the statement, which was signed by Sambo Malaysia secretary general Sebastian Chan.
On Aug 20, Timesport had reported that some sambo exponents felt hard done by OCM for rejecting their Games participation, even under the B2 Category (self-funded and no reimbursement even if medals are won).
A frustrated Mirage shared the report the same day, along with his own comments: “I don’t understand why OCM are not allowing the athletes (sambo) to participate in the Games.
“I am not asking for funding from the country, I am paying for it myself, and when I win the gold medal, it will count in the total medal tally for Malaysia.
“I won’t be able to claim anything from the National Sports Council (NSC). As unfair as it is, I still agreed to compete even when there is nothing in (it) for me.
“Now they (OCM) are denying the whole team from going (to the Games)? It clearly looks political.
“OCM, whatever grudge you have with Sambo Malaysia or any of the staff, that is between you guys. Please don’t let the athletes become the victims of your war.”
Mirage, a silver medallists at the 2012 Asian Wushu Championships and Sanda World Cup, also tagged Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and OCM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria.
Mirage, who was considered a bright medal prospect when sambo makes its Sea Games debut, was initially listed to compete in the men’s combat under-90kg category.
Now that he has been suspended, Sambo Malaysia are hoping that OCM would give the Sea Games green light for their remaining exponents — Goh Zhan Huang (men’s sport under-82kg), Chan Chew Li (women’s sport under-80kg), Mohammad Farhan Afif Ferdaus (men’s combat under-57kg), Mohd Azahar Mukhairi Zairey (men’s combat under-74kg), Mohd Fakhrul Izzat Afandi (men’s combat under-82kg) and Mohd Zulhanizam Mohd Asri (men’s combat under-90kg).
It is learnt that the closing date for Sea Games registration is end of September.