Men and Women set for first tango

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHF) and their women’s counterpart will hold an EGM this Saturday in an effort to finally merge into one body.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) have given Malaysia a deadline until December to merge both bodies into the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHF).
India, who have failed to merge, have received the full brunt of the FIH force when the Champions Trophy was snatched away from New Delhi and handed to Auckland.
“We have sent in the MHC constitution to the FIH and told them that the EGM has been set on Oct 8. MHF requested that the FIH revert on the matter by Oct 4 (tomorrow), in order for the MHF EGM to be realised,” said MHF secretary Manin derjit Singh.
But even before the MHC could become a reality, six affiliates have started questioning its validity as the MHF have only invited 10 affiliates each from the men’s and women’s sections.
“Out hands are tied on that matter because when the MHC constitution was drafted and approved in 2006, it stated that only 10 affiliates from the men’s and women’s would make up MHC.
“MHF and MWHA have 16 affiliates each, but letters could only be sent to 10 affiliates each, after consultation with our president (Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah), and this has resulted in six of them feeling slighted.
“However, Tengku Abdullah has said that he will meet with representatives from all 16 affiliates before the EGM and explain the situation.
“After which, the 16 will select which 10 affiliates will attend the MHC EGM, while six will turn up as observers,” explained Maninderjit.
And immediately after the EGM, the members will propose to amend the MHC constitution to state that all stakeholders of MHF and MWHA are members of the MHC.
“Our hands are tied right now, and this is the only solution that could clear the matter and in future, the MHC con stitution would be much more affiliate friendly and have 32 members (16 each from the men and women) as del egates.”
The MHC EGM is subject to FIH approving the constitution that was sent to them by tomorrow.

Duo test posivite

By Jugjet Singh

THE TNB-Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) has been hit with a doping scandal after two players tested positive for a recreational drug (methamphetamine) during random testing.
The A sample was sent to the National Dope Testing Laboratary in Delhi on Sept 27 and it returned positive. The players have requested for the B sample to be tested.
However, the team concerned have taken their own action by suspending the two players who are not in national or Project 2013 squad.
In a statement released to the media, Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Maninderjit Singh said the results are inconclusive.
"At this stage of the matter, I would not or could not provide any statements because the athletes concerned had sought for the B sample to be tested to reconfirm the results and in which could lead to prejudice to the matter."