First, he was caught smoking in a hotel during the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok last month and was duly punished and served a severe warning for his indiscipline.
However, national shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin breached his discipline yet again and missed training after the recent Hari Raya holidays and paid a high price for that.
The talented Iskandar has been dropped from the national team to the Asian Games in Indonesia in August. He was given the boot by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) council on the recommendations of singles coach Datuk Misbun Sidek.
Iskandar will be replaced by young Soong Joo Ven in the team to the Asiad, led by Datuk Lee Chong Wei, a former world No 1, who is currently ranked No 6.
The others in the Malaysian team are Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Ee Yi, Ong Yew Sin, Chan Peng Soon, Goh Soon Huat, Goh Liu Ying, Shevon Lai Jemie, Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, who chaired the council meeting, did not mince his words that the national body will come down hard on indiscipline in the national squad.
He revealed that tests conducted by the National Sports Institute (NSI), six players have been identified as smokers.
“Another test will be conducted in three months time and if there is still traces of nicotine in their lungs the player or players will be dropped,” said Norza. –Ā RIZAL ABDULLAHĀ
