# ‘Honest, disciplined and committed Kumar tested positive for sibutramine
 
# Kumar will not contest nor challenge the doping test
 
 
 
Desribed as one of the most honest, disciplined and committed sportsman in the country 38-year-old national number one hockey goalkeeper S. Kumar has been tested positive for sibutramine – a non enhancing substance.
 
Sibutramine is prohibited by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) although it is linked more to slimming with many an athlete banned after being tested positive for the drug.
 
It is a severe blow to Malaysian hockey as the national team will compete in three biggies – the Commonwealth Games (Melbourne); Asian Games (Indonesia) and the World Cup (India) – next year. 
 
Tampin-born Kumar has been a role model for Malaysian hockey. He was voted Asia’s best players by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) in 2010 – a year after being named as the best keeper at the Invercargill World Cup qualifying round.
 
Kumar has decided not to contest nor challenge the doping test that was done Malaysia’s last group match against Oman in the Asia Cup Hockey Championships in Dhaka, Bangladesh in October to get a lesser punishment.
 
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Sri Subahan Kamal confirmed that MHC received a letter from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the matter on Dec 12.
 
“It was not a substance taken to improve nor enhance the performance of the athlete” Subahan told a press conference that was also attended Kumar, national hockey chief coach Stephen Van Huizen and Adamas (Malaysian Anti Doping Agency) director Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz.
 
Subahan added that a letter will be sent to FIH tomorrow (Tuesday) requesting for an early hearing.
 
Kumar has 295 caps and is one of the mainstay of the national hockey team. BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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