Four bodybuilders who competed in Singapore's National Championships have tested positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs, the largest number of drug cheats nabbed in a single event in the city-state, dpa reported.
Two others who were supposed to give urine samples at the April 20 meet skipped the random tests.
Caught in the dragnet was Zasi Zura Raush, who won in the lightweight division, The Straits Times said. He was a bronze medalist at the South-East Asia Games and last year's "Mr Singapore," the overall winner in the annual championships.
If found guilty, he will be stripped of his title.
The others have not been officially informed that they failed the doping test by the Singapore Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (SBBF). They remain unidentified in line with international doping procedures.
This year's championships attracted 50 participants across seven divisions.
All those notified have 10 days to appeal the results on their "A" urine samples and can request "B" samples to be tested, the report said.
If they fail to do so or if their "B" samples also test positive, first-time offenders face a two-year worldwide ban on competing. Repeat offenders face a lifetime ban.
The SBBF informed the 24-year-old Sasi Thursday via registered mail.
"I never received the letter," the newspaper quoted Sasi as saying. "And, I have never taken drugs."