Ratchanok is clean, BAT insists

Ratchanok is clean, BAT insists

Ratchanok Intanon was hoping for Olympics gold at this training session at her Bangkok gym on June 22. Now she is hoping reports are false that she has failed a drug test by the Badminton World Federation and other authorities. (Reuters photo)
Ratchanok Intanon was hoping for Olympics gold at this training session at her Bangkok gym on June 22. Now she is hoping reports are false that she has failed a drug test by the Badminton World Federation and other authorities. (Reuters photo)

The Badminton Association of Thailand insisted Wednesday its top player Ratchanok "Nong May" Intanon is clean and remains one of the country's best medal hopes at next month's Olympics.

It was reported Wednesday that the 21-year-old star tested positive during the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China in April where she suffered an early exit.

But BAT assistant secretary-general Thanach Assawanapakas was quick to dismiss the reports, saying the organisation had not yet been informed about the issue from the World Badminton Federation.

"She is training hard for the Olympics," he said. "She has passed several dope tests."

Sakol Wannapong, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, said it was just a rumour but it could affect Ratchanok's preparations for the Olympics.

"We should give her moral support," he said.

Dr Meechai Inwood, a sports scientist at the SAT, said that all Thai athletes who will take part in the Olympics had been tested in the past two months but no positive samples were found.

Thailand will have 52 athletes at the Aug 5-21 Olympics.

BAT's Thanach said Ratchanok, the 2013 world champion, remained the association's best hope in Rio de Janeiro.

Photos show how the badminton star has developed. Left: Ratchanok, then 16, in action at the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta in November, 2011. Right: Ratchanok, now 21, at the Uber Cup tournament at Kunshan, China, in May, 2016. (AFP photos)

Ratchanok is seen as the top contender to become Thailand's first ever Olympic medallist in badminton.

The Yasothon-born star reached the quarter-finals at the 2012 London Olympics.

She won the first set and took a huge lead in the second only for China's Wang Win to stage a comeback.

Six other Thai badminton players will also compete in Rio including Boonsak Ponsana who will make his fifth Olympic appearance.

"Our players are in good condition and we are confident that they will bring home a medal," Thanach said.

Five badminton gold medals are up for grabs at the Rio tournament and the draw will be made on July 26.

Thailand aim to win at least one gold medal in Rio.

Apart from Ratchanok, other contenders include boxers, taekwondo fighters, shooters and weightlifters.

Ratchanok has said she hoped to win gold at the Rio Olympics.

"I hope that I can get the gold medal for Thailand," Ratchanok said during a recent interview. "It's not too difficult for me and I believe that I can do it."

Ratchanok is coached by Chinese Xie Zhuhua, who once battled China's current head coach Li Yongbo during competition in the 1990s.

She is one of the most successful badminton players this year.

In April, she became the first female shuttler to win three consecutive Superseries titles.

She then briefly took the world No.1 spot but has since suffered a slump in form and is now ranked fourth.

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