Melaka Athletics chief Fadzil Bakar speaks out, warning of consequences for athletes and calling for resignations at the top.
Fadzil Bakar , a former MAF deputy president, has urged accountability and leadership change in the Malaysia Athletics crisis.
PETALING JAYA: Fadzil Bakar has become the first state athletics leader to speak out on the Malaysia Athletics crisis, breaking ranks to call for accountability at the top.
Fadzil, a former deputy president of the Malaysia Athletics Federation, said the dispute now threatens the sport’s credibility and its athletes. “The athletes are the ones who will suffer if this drags on,” he said. “They train for years, and this disruption can derail everything.”
He warned that failure to comply with World Athletics rules could trigger sanctions, including suspension from international competition. “That would affect participation in major events such as the Asian Games, World Championships and the Olympics, as well as qualification pathways and funding,” he said.
Fadzil called on Malaysia Athletics president Karim Ibrahim to step down voluntarily. “He should step aside for the good of the sport,” he said, adding that the controversy has brought disrepute to athletics. He also urged secretary-general Nurhayati Karim to resign over her handling of correspondence from World Athletics.
Fadzil said the executive council remained unaware of a key letter from the global body for about 42 days. The letter, received in January, surfaced only at a council meeting last Thursday.
“This should have been shared immediately,” he said. “The council needed time to assess the situation.” He said the delay limited discussion and forced the federation into a late response ahead of a World Athletics deadline.
Fadzil also pointed to the council’s role in approving the constitutional amendment that introduced a five-year cap on suspensions. The change allowed Karim to return to office despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that upheld World Athletics’ decision to declare him ineligible under its integrity framework. “They were present when it was tabled. It was approved,” Fadzil said. “They cannot now say they did not know.”
The crisis centres on whether Malaysia Athletics’ constitution aligns with World Athletics rules, which require member federations to bar individuals deemed ineligible. Karim has maintained that he was not banned for life and that his return complies with domestic rules. World Athletics, however, expects full compliance with its integrity decisions.
Fadzil said the federation must act decisively to restore confidence. “This is bigger than any individual,” he said. “It is about the future of the sport.”
Karim Ibrahim Malaysia Athletics Melaka AA Nurhayati Karim Sports Governance World Athletics
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