Bangkok: Thailand’s badminton star Ratchanok Intanon has been cleared to return to badminton after charges of failed drug test were dropped by a Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hearing Panel on Monday.
Ratchanok Intanon who became the first singles player to win three BWF Superseries in 3 consecutive weeks – the India Open, Malaysia, and Singapore Superseries early this year, became the first Thai player to ever ranked World No. 1 after winning Singapore Open in April.
In a press conference held by the Badminton Association of Thailand on Monday, the association confirmed that Ratchanok Intanon has been cleared of doping allegations, and she could participate in any competitions immediately and is eligible to compete in next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Intanon was under doping investigation after an illegal substance was found in her urine she submitted during the Thomas and Uber Cup finals in China on May 15. That substance was concluded as triamcinolone acetonide, a class of steroid hormones known as glucocorticoids. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the substance is banned during in-competition testing when administered “orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or rectally”.
The substance entered Intanon’s body after an injection she had received for a leg injury earlier this year. After looking and listening at evidence such as medical records and expert witness testimony, BWF has determined that the substance was “part of on-going medical treatment” and no violation of the regulations was committed.
The verdict by BWF placed a huge relief for Intanon who obviously has been in a very difficult situation for the last few weeks. She even broke down during the press conference on Monday. Fortunately, she can now put everything behind her and focus on the Olympics.
“It is my dream to play in Olympics. I am always confident of my innocence,” said Intanon.
Intanon can now going back to prepare for Olympics after BWF has stopped her from training when it began the doping investigation on July 10.
BadmintonPlanet.com’s note to Ratchanok Intanon:
BadmintonPlanet has never mentioned and named any names in all our previous reporting regarding this incident, because we fully respect and support Ratchanok Intanon’s contribution to the sport of Badminton. We would like to wish her good luck in Olympics, and be strong!
