The final fall for badminton’s ultimate trier Lee Chong Wei

The Malaysian, who has been ranked No. 1 for over five years without ever winning the Olympic gold medal or the World Championship title, coming second best in some stunning thrillers, had managed to lend an aura to the title of badminton’s eternal bridesmaid. He wore the diadem of defeat against the Chinese with gloried grit and dignity, and his most recent losses to Chen Long (at the Copenhagen Worlds) and Lin Dan (at the Incheon Asiad) would only have increased his legend as the man who might be beaten by the super Chinese, but whose resolve to outwit them some day could never be broken.

After the dope positives from the Oslo lab, though, which pointed accusing fingers at unlawful use of the glucocorticoid at the Copenhagen Worlds, the 32-year-old Malaysian stands to be stripped off not just the clutch of silvers he won in the last few months at the two major events, but also that ungrudging adoration reserved for the vanquished lot — akin to Jana Novotna or Pat Rafter at Wimbledon or World Cup cricket’s South Africa or New Zealand. In Chong Wei’s case, given the staggering number of occasions he has shrugged to accept the silver after almighty efforts, that adoration was manifold.

Defiance personified

But beyond shock paving way to dismay and dismay morphing into denials that will no doubt ferment conspiracy theories in Malaysia about enemies out to get at their idolised Datuk Chong Wei, there will be immense sadness in the greater badminton world at the fall of a hero who personified defiance. Everything from his busy bustling style of play wherein he snapped around the court like an elastic band in stark contrast to Super Dan’s economy of movements, right upto his unforgettable jump smash (and the power it possessed) necessitated by his small frame, all spoke of his audacity in defying the might of opponents who were taller and stronger.

Lee Chong Wei defined excellence in a sport where rivals stayed formal and uptight, though he was far more affable and approachable, a face that could carry tournaments by appearing on hoardings as well as mingle with fans and followers. The world was outraged when China turned off the air-conditioning at a World Championship finals and Chong Wei crumpled on the court, making him the rightful successor to Indonesian Taufik Hidayat as the favourite of the neutrals.

Shadow on the legend

However the positive for the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drug — incidentally something that can aid an athlete’s rehabilitation — and given that Chong Wei was coming off a stem-cell surgery, will cast an immense shadow on the Malaysian legend. Unlike other storied tales of disgrace in sport like Ben Johnson and Lance Armstrong, Chong Wei’s failed test was not preceded by insistent murmurs. Rumours of Chong Wei hanging up his boots had begun at the start of this season, though Rio always loomed close, for one final face-off between champ Lin Dan and his challenger. A failed test this late in the day though punctures every notion of redemption.

Many winning stories have been soiled in recent years by the stains of dope-cheating and cynicism associated with what fuels champions -—- dope or determination, is at an all-time high. That, even the honest practice of trying and its biggest poster-boy Lee Chong Wei can be sullied by the dope taint, is in many ways the biggest bummer.