Lee Chong Wei Recalls 2014 Doping Ban at Live Talk
Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei revisited the 2014 doping controversy that threatened his career, telling an audience at the Idea Live Arena that a painkilling injection administered by a doctor who failed to properly specify the medication led to his eight-month suspension, The Star reported. Speaking at the Beyond Greatness live talk on Saturday, the 44-year-old former world No. 1 detailed the sequence of events following a late-night phone call from the Badminton Association of Malaysia informing him of a failed drug test.
Lee explained that he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear prior to the World Championships in Denmark and received a treatment containing dexamethasone after missing the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The attending physician administered the medication via a painkilling injection but omitted proper documentation for the National Sports Council, preventing the team from declaring it in advance to the Badminton World Federation. Although a legal hearing in Amsterdam established that he had not ingested the substance to enhance his performance, regulators still imposed an eight-month ban.
Lee Recovers Ranking Before Cancer Forces Retirement
Following the expiration of his suspension in 2015, Lee entered smaller tournaments to accumulate ranking points and reclaim the world No. 1 spot by 2016. Just two years later, he faced a severe health crisis when diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer. Lee underwent more than 30 rounds of radiation therapy in Taiwan, enduring a grueling treatment regimen supported by family and friends who traveled from Malaysia to assist him.
Lee officially announced his retirement in June 2019 upon medical advice prohibiting high-intensity training, concluding a career defined by three Olympic silver medals. Despite stepping away from competitive play, he remains active in the sport, currently serving as the performance committee chairman for the Badminton Association of Malaysia on a voluntary basis.
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