Most if not all athletes usually walk away from their sport after being suspended to doping charges. Malaysian athlete Joseline Cheah is not one of them. Joseline Cheah, a top ranking pistol shooter, chose to finish her punishment and return to her game. Her two-year suspension due to doping finally ended in April and now, she is back to continue her career.

In 2006, Joseline was a 24-year-old rising star in the field of shooting when she defeated Bibiana Ng and gave her a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. In late December, she was also able to compete in the Doha Asian Games where she nearly missed out on the finals. Cheah also holds the record in the national 10m air pistol category.

Unfortunately, the Asian Games turned out to be the last of her international outings, because it was found out that she, together with Bibiana and Siti Nur Masitah, tested positive for using the banned substacnce propranolol while she was competing in President Ally T.H. Ong competition in March 2007.

According to the athletes, they were not intentionally taking any drugs. They pleaded not guilty against the charge. They claimed that the probable source of the banned substance was from the chocolates that their Ukrainian coach Anatoly Egrishchin gave them. The International Sport Shooting Federation reported that the coach left the country after a month when the shooters were sentenced with suspension for two years.

It was one of the darkest periods for Joseline Cheah. According to her statement, they were hurt more due to the shock of not being able to shoot in competitions for the next two years. She said it was difficult for her to accept that her rising career was abruptly killed by a substance she was not even aware of. However, the doping sentence did not keep her from being hopeful.

She said in an interview that there is nothing that she can do but to face her responsibilities since the banned substance is already in her body. Propranolol is a widely used prescription drug intended for hypertensive patients. Besides lowering blood pressure, it makes a person remain calm. Clinically. the drug is prescribed to be taken an hour or so before a “feared” event. Propranolol is a banned substance under the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) rules. Cheah said she was also glad that all throughout her tough experience; the National Sports Council (NSC) and especially her parents were there to support them all the way.

According to her, her parents believed that it was not her fault. They have been there to support her and even told her to keep on going with sport if it is what she wants. She said it was the reason why she kept on training herself even if she was suspended from competing.

Another thing that kept her going was missing out on the Beijing Olympics last year. Because of that, Cheah said she had the burning determination to go back and finally get an Olympic gold medal. It was a driving force for her to keep on going and do all the best that she can. It inspires her to become a better shooter every day. Currently, Cheah said she is looking forward to international competitions such as SEA Games in Laos, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games as well as the World Championships.

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