BWF lifts doping ban on Korean players

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said Tuesday it had lifted a one-year ban imposed on Korean players Lee Yong-Dae and Kim Ki-Jung for missing doping tests, citing "new evidence" exonerating them.

Kuala Lumpur: The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday it had lifted a one-year ban imposed on Korean players Lee Yong-Dae and Kim Ki-Jung for missing doping tests, citing "new evidence" exonerating them.

The Kuala Lumpur-based federation did not disclose the nature of the evidence but said the ban "has been reversed and they are eligible to resume playing immediately". The one-year ban was imposed in January after the players were absent during visits by anti-doping inspectors. The Badminton Korea Association maintains Lee and Kim were busy with international competitions. Lee won mixed doubles gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and took a bronze in the men`s doubles in London in 2012. The BWF said evidence presented on the players` behalf at an initial hearing on the case in January was "insufficient and ambiguous", but the new information changed the picture. The BWF last month fined the Korean association $40,000 for failing to provide the two players with necessary information about the rules for doping tests.