It’s not often we see badminton players getting banned. We hardly see a red card in the sport. But it does not mean that it does not happen.

Players get banned in sports for various reasons. One of the most common reasons for getting a ban is match-fixing. Match-fixing happens in all sports and badminton is not untouched by it.

Today, we look at a list of players who are/were banned by the BWF.

Disclaimer: Players banned by their national team/associations are not featured here. (So do not go looking for Kento Momota here)

1.      Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)

In April 2015, Lee Chong Wei was handed an eight-month ban for using the drug Dexamethasone. It is a banned drug under the 2009 BWF Anti-Doping Act.

But Lee’s ban was backtracked to August 2014, the time when he was detected with the banned substance at the 2014 World Championships in Copenhagen. And he returned to the court just a month after the official decision of the ban was made.

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BWF in their statement stated: “The panel is convinced this is not a case of doping with intent to cheat.” It was deemed as a case of negligence.

2.      Chen Lu (China)

Chen Lu was handed a ban on 7 December 2019 by BWF for doping. She is barred from participating in tournaments until 5 February 2021.

As per reports, she violated the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) doping rules in 2019. She used a substance known as hydrochlorothiazide. A diuretic drug like this helps in reducing weight by increasing urine flow and sodium excretion. It can hide the presence of other illegal drugs in the body thereby making doping tests ineffective.

Recommended: For violating the rules of the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency, Chen Lu has been suspended until next year

3.      Zulfadi Zulkiffli (Malaysia)

Zulfadi Zulkiffli was banned for 20 years on 12 January 2018 for match-fixing. He is one of the two Malaysian players who were handed long term bans by the BWF in 2018.

He cannot hold any administrative post, cannot be a coach, cannot officiate a match or be a part of any development function.

Both players “engaged in corruption offences over a significant period and a significant number of tournaments” dating back to 2013 but that Zulfadli had “committed more violations over a longer time frame than Tan (Chun Seang)” and had “been proven to have manipulated the results of four matches”, BWF said in its statement.

He was also fined 25,000 USD.

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4. Tan Chun Seang (Malaysia)

Tan Chun Seang was handed a 15-year ban on 12 January 2018 for match-fixing.

Like Zulkiffli, he is suspended from tournaments under the BWF. He cannot hold any administrative post, cannot be a coach, cannot officiate a match or be a part of any development function.

He was fined 15,000 USD.

5. Joachim Persson (Denmark)

Joachim Persson was banned for 18 months on 18 March 2019 in relation to match-fixing.

He was banned from all badminton tournaments and taking up jobs as a coach or in administration.

His situation was a little tricky as compared to the two Malaysians on the list. According to Persson, the ban of 18 months on him was too harsh and he thinks the BWF wanted to make an example of him to send a strict message to others.

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He was fined 4,500 USD.

6. Bodin Isara (Thailand)

Bodin Isara was banned for two years after his nasty brawl on the court with compatriot Maneepong Jongjit at the 2013 Canada Open. Isara chased Jongjit around the arena and beat him up in front of the whole stadium.

Jongjit and Isara were partners at the 2012 London Olympics where they reached the quarterfinals. The match in Canada was the first time they met as opposing teams after they split in 2012.

“Everything we have done in 60 years collapsed just because of one person. In my six decades in this sport, I haven’t seen a more violent case than this,” Badminton Association of Thailand was quoted as saying by Thai media.

BWF charged him with physical abuse and conduct that was contrary to the integrity of badminton.

7. Maneepong Jongjit (Thailand)

Maneepong Jongjit was banned for three months following his on-court brawl with Bodin Isara in 2013.

The BWF charged Jongjit with inappropriate conduct, verbal abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Both Isara and Jongjit issued public apologies.

Since then they have buried their ugly fight in the past and become close friends again. They paired up as doubles partners and reached the final of the 2018 Spain Masters Super 300 tournament.

Players in this article