ZHOU MI – Exclusive Interview with BADZINE

Former world number one Zhou Mi, banned for having being tested positive for Clenbuterol in a sample taken out of competition in June  is strongly stating her innocence.  She is willing to appeal the decision to ban her for 2 years and said she might get pregnant if the appeal fails – something she says  no woman would do if using drugs. She gave Badzine an exclusive interview.

Badzine: When did you realize that you may have committed a mistake? Were you afraid of the outcome of the test?

Zhou Mi: Until the BWF made the judgment, I didn’t worry about the result. I didn’t believe I would be punished because I wasn’t worried for my sample. I remember I was applying for a visa when I got the notice of the doping test. I went back to Hong Kong Sports Institute immediately.

Badzine: You said you were aware of the Wada rules. Did the pharmacist tell you the medicine didn’t contain any forbidden substance? Did the medicine have any effect on you? Did you feel better at all?

Zhou: When I was in the Chinese team, the team management was in a collective format. As a player, I didn’t need to worry about all these aspects of the game because the staff would take care of it. But this is the main difference between the China and Hong Kong teams.  Here I have to prepare and manage everything by myself.

Actually I’ve always used Chinese medicine since settling in HK. Over the years, there has been no problem with this.  I don’t think Chinese medicine will bring any kind of bad influence.

After I took the medicine, my fever and flu got better of course. Even now, I am not sure that specific medicine is the main reason for the positive result of the doping test.

Badzine: What would you advise the BWF/tournament organizers to do for independent players, who do not have doctors constantly with them? Should an independent doctor be appointed for such players and reachable at all times?

Zhou: Only physiologists will go with the team when we go to the competition overseas, but no doctor. This is the problem that all the teams are now facing.

Badzine: Do you feel the 2-year ban is unfair?  What sentence would you feel is fair for your mistake?

Zhou: Up to this moment, I do think the judgment is unfair to me. I never use any prohibited stimulant to enhance my performance and to create the unfair competition. Moreover, Clenbuterol is useless to me. I think I should be warned but not banned for 2 years.

Badzine:  What will you do if the ban is confirmed? Keep training, or become a coach for Hong Kong?

Zhou: If the final appeal fails then I will not be able to continue to train. It is the coach’s decision and not mine. To prove my innocence, I will soon give birth to a child.  No one who dopes would dare to do such a thing.

The interview was conducted by email on September 10th  in Chinese and translated into English. The original version is available – you can contact us at redaction@badzine.info