Badminton duo may escape life ban

KUALA LUMPUR: The two Malaysian shuttlers, implicated in the recent match-fixing scandal, may not be banned for life by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

A source revealed that the two professional players could be slapped with a eight-year ban instead.

“I'm not confirming anything, but from what I heard, these players could be banned for eight-years.

“This is because the world body has taken a few factors into consideration. However I cannot confirm anything, until the BWF write officially to the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia).

“Having said that, I still think these players risk losing a lot. Even if it's a two-year ban, they stand to lose a lot," said the source.

It is understood that the BWF have already received a full report from the three-man independent panel who conducted a hearing in Singapore, in February.

They are said to be in the final phase of finalising the verdict, before making an official statement.

The players, one a former top junior shuttler, and the other a former Malaysian Thomas Cupper, had six match-fixing charges lined up against them, from six tournaments between 2013-2016.

Based on BWF rules and regulations, players found guilty of match-fixing could face a mandatory life ban.

Though the world body have yet to reveal the names of the shuttlers implicated, Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Tan Chun Seang were seen attending the hearing at a hotel in Singapore.

Should the players, who have been provisionally suspended from all tournaments pending the investigation, wish to challenge the decision, they can take up the case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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