Vietnam's Top Female Bodybuilder Tests Positive

Nguyen Thi My Linh

Vietnam’s top female body builder Nguyen Thi My Linh has tested positive for doping, a big setback for the national team as it prepares for the Asian Bodybuilding Championship slated for next Wednesday in Hong Kong.

July 12, 2008

According to national bodybuilding team coach Huynh Anh, Linh had taken a medicine that contained the banned substance, Lasix 40 mg, while she was sick.

She may have not known about the presence of the substance in the drug or she was just not careful, thinking that there was sufficient leeway prior to the start of the competition.

Unfortunately, soon after taking the medicine, the World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) asked Vietnam to send urine samples of its bodybuilders to Malaysia for testing and results showed that Linh tested positive for the banned substance.

The Vietnamese team now must remove Linh from the competing group, but the Vietnam Sports Administration has not decided on the scope of Linh’s punishment.

At minimum, Linh will be suspended for two years and must pay a US$2,000 fine as WBF rules stipulate.

Linh’s ejection is bad news for the athletic team, on the eve of a big event.

However, Vietnam still has hopes like Pham Van Mach who has previously won the Asian and World championships, and rising stars like Pham Tan Tai and Nguyen Van Lam.

“It’s hard to send young athletes, but it’s worth trying,” said coach Anh.

“We may steal some wins if our young representatives are confident.”

Reported by Quang Tuyen

Source:  Thanh Nien