Someone is certainly unhappy or simply has an axe to grind with 10-time Mr Universe and Malaysia bodybuilding champion Sazali Samad when he was slapped an additional four-year ban by the Malaysian Body Building Federation’s (MBBF) disciplinary committee.
This mean’s Sazali is now banned till Sept 22, 2023. The Batu Pahat-born Sazali, a former police officer, was first banned for four years for testing positive for a type of anabolic steroid – a banned substance. The is from Sept 22, 2015, to Sept 22, 2019.
The second ban is for taking part in a competition in Shanghai, China. This was the China Sports Show Fearless Bodybuilding Physique and Bikini competition.
In an immediate response to the additional ban, the 51-year-old Sazali termed it as “double standards” by MBBF and claimed in the past a few former athletes were banned and suspended for similar offense but still became judges or coaches, including those from his former team Police.
“This is a gross injustice to me…I too have a family to feed and need to earn a living,” said Sazali.
“It is a cruel blow,” added a disappointed Sazali and called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Malaysia Anti-Doping Agency (Adamas) and the National Sports Council (NSC) to investigate MBBF because there are shortcomings in the national body.
In Shanghai, Sazali won the gold medal in the 75kg category and was second in the Open category. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
