Malaysia To Become First SEA Games Host To Enforce World Anti-doping Code

PETALING JAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to become the first SEA Games host to implement the World Anti-Doping Code at the 34th edition next year.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the move, led by Malaysia, will ensure the 2027 SEA Games are fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards, enhancing the integrity and international standing of the Games.

He added that Malaysia’s proposal was unanimously approved during the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) meeting No. 1 (2025–2027) held here today.

“Malaysia has a storied history of pioneering structural shift in regional sport. The latest move, if adopted, will follow the legacy of 1977 when Malaysia transformed the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (SEAP Games) into the current SEA Games.

“In 2017, it broke new ground by introducing three winter sports. By becoming a WADA signatory, SEAGF will reinforce its commitment to clean sport and elite-level excellence,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.

The World Anti-Doping Code, first adopted in 2004, serves as the cornerstone for harmonising anti-doping policies, rules and regulations across sports organisations and public authorities worldwide.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Norza said the meeting also addressed the deadline for all National Olympic Committees to submit appeals for the inclusion of additional sports in the 2027 SEA Games, set for May 8.

“Once we get the appeals, we will engage MASOC (Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee) and the National Sports Council to decide whether it is worth our consideration to bring it to the next council meeting, to be held in the next few months,” he said.

The 2027 SEA Games, featuring 38 sports, will be hosted across Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

Sarawak will serve as the main cluster and host the opening ceremony, with 17 sports held in the state: aquatics, weightlifting, basketball, bowling, lawn bowls, e-sports, gymnastics, golf, cricket, archery, shooting, muay Thai, petanque, squash, taekwondo, tennis and wushu.

Penang will host six sports: sepak takraw, snooker and billiards, judo, boxing, table tennis and floorball, while Johor will host only football.

Kuala Lumpur will host the closing ceremony and 14 sports: badminton, cycling at the National Velodrome in Nilai, volleyball, netball, equestrian, hockey, karate, fencing, ice skating, athletics, pencak silat, sailing in Langkawi, rugby and water skiing.

-- BERNAMA