AMSTERDAM, April 27 (IANS): Former world number one Lee Chong Wei has been banned for eight months by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for doping.
The 32-year-old Malaysian tested positive for the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone during the World Championships in August. But Lee, who has been suspended since November last year, will be able to compete again May 1 after the ban was backdated.
The BWF said Lee was �negligent�, but the degree of negligence was �rather light� as �he did not realise he had ingested a specified substance (Dexamethasone)�.
�The panel is convinced this is not a case of doping with intent to cheat,� the BWF said in a statement.
Lee was provisionally suspended in November last year and therefore barred temporarily from participating in any competition, till a decision was made.
