IWF Inform OCM That Vietnam and Not Malaysia Given Slot to London

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on Tuesday confirmed that weightlifter Azizah Fadzil has not been given a slot for the London Olympics by the international body. The OCM Honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi said the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had informed the OCM of the decision on Tuesday through a letter. "Through a letter, IWF informed us that one of the weightlifters who finished among the top six in the Asia Zone Olympic Qualifier in Pyeongtaek, South Korea in April had failed a dope test. "Following the weightlifter's failure, IWF had carried out a revision of the ranking and decided to award the slot to Vietnam since the country had 94 points compared with Malaysia who had 91," he told Bernama on Tuesday. Azizah, 21, was deemed to have qualified on merit after finishing sixth in the 53kg category of the qualifiers but a review by IWF saw a Vietnam weightlifter who finished in seventh place hoisted to third while the Malaysian was relegated to seventh. Only the top six ranked countries in the Asian zone qualify for the Olympics. Kok Chi said the letter was handed to the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation President Zafarul Akhbar Kassim Tuesday. "We are disappointed but accept the decision by IWF. The letter clearly states that we do not have a slot and I have informed Azizah," he said. He added that Azizah would now compete in the Pahang SUKMA. -- BERNAMA