KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) has tightened its anti-doping protocols by ensuring all food and supplements consumed by the national squad comply with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations as it targets three gold medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which begin on Thursday.
MWF president Datuk Ayub Rahmat said protecting athletes from inadvertent doping violations has become a key priority alongside preparations for the Games, with the federation implementing stringent nutritional controls throughout its training camp.
The national squad is currently in the final phase of an intensive training camp in Istanbul, Türkiye, from June 28 to July 23, before travelling directly to Glasgow for the Games.
“In line with the medal target set for weightlifting, the MWF has accepted the challenge of delivering three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
“We arrived at this target after carefully assessing the athletes’ current form, performances throughout the qualification period and the level of preparation they have undergone. We are confident our lifters are capable of producing strong performances if everything goes according to plan.
“Our preparations have been thorough, and every aspect of the athletes’ training programme has been closely monitored to ensure they peak at the right time. We believe the team has what it takes to compete with the best in the Commonwealth,” he told Scoop.
Ayub said the federation has adopted a far more rigorous approach to nutrition and supplementation to eliminate any risk of athletes unknowingly consuming prohibited substances.
“We are paying close attention to every aspect of the athletes’ diet, including the food they consume and the supplements they take. Every product is carefully monitored to ensure it complies with WADA regulations.
“We cannot afford to leave anything to chance because even unintentional contamination could have serious consequences for an athlete’s career and Malaysia’s campaign. Our responsibility is to provide a safe environment where athletes can focus entirely on their performances without worrying about anti-doping issues.
“That is why we have implemented strict measures throughout the training camp to ensure everything the athletes consume meets the required international standards. We want them to arrive in Glasgow focused solely on competing and delivering their best performances,” he added.
Weightlifting has long been one of Malaysia’s most reliable medal contributors at the Commonwealth Games.
At the 2022 Birmingham Games, Mohamad Aniq Kasdan won the men’s 55kg title to deliver one of Malaysia’s seven gold medals while setting a new Commonwealth Games record.
Malaysia has consistently returned with medals in weightlifting across previous editions, cementing the sport’s reputation as one of the country’s strongest on the Commonwealth stage. – July 20, 2026