'I am no cheat': Chong Wei speaks out over online doping taunts
KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve years after his failed doping test, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei said online taunts questioning his integrity still cause him pain.
KUALA LUMPUR - After a failed doping test a decade ago, former world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei has spoken out about the enduring emotional impact of online accusations linking him to cheating. At his Beyond Greatness live talk in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, Chong Wei lamented that although a Badminton World Federation panel found he had no intent to cheat, he still faces daily taunts branding him a drug cheat.
He emphasized the pain that remains unutterable, prompting him to clarify his innocence now in 2026. The Malaysian athlete tested positive for dexamethasone after the 2014 World Championships in Copenhagen, resulting in an eight-month suspension that allowed his return to competition on May 1 of that year. An inquiry concluded his negligence was minimal, expunging his runner-up finish at the event.
Chong Wei recounted the distress of learning of the positive test, receiving a frantic call from Malaysian officials instructing him to return home immediately. He mistakenly drove in the wrong direction after informing his wife about his return plans. The BWF found contaminated cordyceps capsule shells were most likely responsible, accepting this explanation as probable.
Despite the lingering doubts, Chong Wei committed to rigorous training, unaware of the ban's duration or his future competitive status.
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