KUALA LUMPUR, 3 May 2018:
Malaysian professional shuttlers Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Tan Chun Seang have been banned from competing in badminton for 20 and 15 years respectively for breaching the Badminton World Federation’s Code of Conduct in Relation to Betting, Wagering and Irregular Match Results.
According to a statement issued by Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday, the independent players have also been banned from any involvement in the sport for 15 and 20 years respectively.
This covers administrative, coaching, officiating, or developmental function roles. In addition, Chun Seang has been fined US$15,000 (RM59,000) while Zulfadli fined US$25,000 (RM98,000) by a BWF Ethics Hearing Panel.
In reaching their decision, the three-member independent panel found that Chun Seang committed 26 violations while Zulfadli committed 27 violations under the 2012 Code of Conduct in Relation to Betting Wagering and Irregular Match Results.
Zulfadli also committed another four violations of the 2016 Code of Conduct in Relation to Betting Wagering and Irregular Match Results.
The independent panel noted both players were “engaged in corruption offences over a significant period and a significant number of tournaments” dating back to 2013 – but that Zulfadli had “committed more violations over a longer time frame than Chun Seang” and had been proven to have manipulated the results of four matches.
The suspensions were backdated to Jan 12 this year – the date on which both players were provisionally suspended by the BWF. Chun Seang and Zulfadli have the right to appeal under Clause 14 of the BWF Judicial Procedures.
Badminton Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the punishments meted out by the BWF were appropriate.
He said it also served as a warning to keep the sport clean and if such problems were not nipped in the bud, such misconduct could spread.
“ BAM will never compromise when it comes to match-fixing, doping or corruption,” he said, adding that he would be handing over the 65-page report from the BWF regarding the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“This is something new for BAM and BWF. The report might help the authorities tackle problems of this nature.
“Now that this has happened, we will take follow up action by working with the authorities to see how we can come up with an education process for national and independent shuttlers not to be involved in any form of misconduct.”
– Bernama