More athletes chopped as Malaysia and South Korea simmer

DOHA, Dec 12 (Reuters) An athlete was disqualified from the Asian Games for importing banned drugs while another got the chop from karate for being too young on a busy Tuesday morning for administrators at the Asian Games.

Games officials were also busy fielding complaints as Malaysia and South Korea were fuming at perceived injustices.

While Chinese sportsmen looked to add to their nation's mammoth medal haul at the 15th Asian spectacle, others made shameful or upsetting exits.

Iraqi bodybuilder Saeaz Faeaz was disqualified after 134 ampoules of the banned muscle-building steroid nandrolone were found in Iraqi luggage at Doha airport.

Organisers held a meeting between the National Health Authority of Qatar, customs and the Iraqi delegation, director general of the Olympic Council of Asia Husain Al Musallam told reporters.

''During the hearing he (Faeaz) admitted that this bag and all 134 ampoules belonged to him. That he brought it inside the country.'' The adage that if you are good enough you are old enough clearly did not apply in the case of 13-year-old schoolgirl Haya Samir Jumaa.

TEENAGER CHOPPED The teenager from the United Arab Emirates was disqualified from the women's individual kata when her age was spotted, despite having already competed in two contests.

Doha 2006 karate contest rules, set by the Asian Karate Federation, state competitors must be aged 16 or over.

''It happens all the time,'' karate competition manager Mohammad Al Rumihi said.

The OCA, however, was furious.

''The decision of the Asian Karate Federation to disqualify the athlete after completing two matches is totally unacceptable,'' Al Musallam said.

''In the Asian Games, we don't have age limits.'' Malaysian hockey officials accused Japan, Hong Kong and Pakistan of fixing results of matches after their team was eliminated, while South Korea's handball squad raged at refereeing.

The Malaysians said they would lodge an official protest against the three teams whom they claim fixed the outcome of the men's group A matches.

Meanwhile five-times champions South Korea branded the Asian Games handball competition an ''embarrassment'' to the sport after their controversial loss to Qatar in the semi-finals yesterday.

FORMAL PROTEST The Koreans were forced to play shorthanded for most of the night after the game's two Kuwaiti referees hit them with a string of penalties.

Korea had already lodged a formal protest concerning ''biased refereeing'' in their loss to Kuwait on Saturday, state news agency Yonhap reported. The two referees from that match were from Qatar.

''I have been playing this game for 20 years and have never seen anything like it,'' said Yoon Kyung-shin, who was world player of the year in 2001. ''It makes an embarrassment of handball. It was like child's play at times.'' By mid-afternoon China had won 124 gold medals from 319 on offer.

The world's most populous nation won 150 at the last Asian Games in 2002.

Reuters SAM GC1931