Vindicated??

Former national chief coach Harun Rasheed (pic) feels like a free man - thanks to the national coaches and athletes.

pic taken from The Malay Mail

Their decision to hand a petition to MAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim demanding the resignation of deputy president Karim Ibrahim and implicating the former coaching committee chairman for the doping scandals that has rocked the athlete scene makes Harun vindicated.

However was it the right thing to do? - considering that the B samples of Yunus Lasaleh, Sea Games 4x400m gold medal winner, had yet to be made official by Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). 

Harun for one doesn't think so.

But that has already been done and no point dwelling on it. What's going to happen now?

"Whoever is responsible for the doping should face the consequences," said Harun

But he also believes this saga will serve as a lesson to everyone.

"We should stand for what we think is right. Hopefully in the future athletes will be bolder."

Meanwhile Malacca AAA secretary Rengan Pakkri vows that the State will be behind Karim as he is Innocent until proven guilty.

"He is from our State. We must back him as we are only hearing one side of the story," said Rengan.

"It is also possible that NSC are manipulating the athletes. They always want to control things. But if he is guilty then he must not contest in the next elections."

Start at home

There's no better place to resurrect one's career than at home.

That's exactly what KLRC pair Gan Teik Chai and Tan Bin Shien need to do at the on-going Malaysia Open.

pic taken from ssdhaliwal.blogspot.com

Since been dropped by BA of Malaysia from the World Championship in London last year, despite being the second ranked pair, the duo's ranking have dropped tremendously.

In a way BAM decision seems vindicated as they cited a drop of current form at that moment. 

Teik Chai and Bin Shien have fought their case to OCM, demanding there be proper guildelines for NSA to select players representing Malaysia.

Some feel that the players were victimised for leaving BAM and joining KLRC. 

Questions have not been answered yet but what a way to find resolve than putting BAM in the spot again.

For that, they will have to climb up the ranks once again and qualify for the London Olympics later this year.

Read all about it in today's Mailsport.

First their endured Shattered London dreams which lead to OCM stepping in. The pair insisted they only want to move on.

However no middle path was found and ultimately OCM left everyone guessing. The players claimed there was no beef with BAM but sources close to themrevealed they may seek arbitration - something everyone has been waiting for.

Let's have a debate (continuation)

pic taken from The Malay Mail

So the national athletic body (MAU) wants the Sports Ministry to do away with the National Sports Council (NSC) and only work with National Sports Institute (ISN) and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

Karim does have valid points that ISN know better of the athletes' need. But with task of conducting medical research and etc already on their hands, won't it an extra burden on their shoulders.

Anyway OCM can help out too perhaps - that's the opinion of MAU.

Read here to know more of what Karim told me on Tuesday and here for the Press Statement sent by MAU last night.