Cambodia got its first gold when Chanmean Sok won the men's singles petanque at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand

Two athletes fail doping tests

The Associated Press
Sunday, December 9, 2007
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand: Two Thai athletes at the Southeast Asian
Games failed drug tests, while Cambodia won its first gold medal of
the tournament Sunday.

An unnamed Thai male hockey player was expelled from the games after
testing positive for the performance-enhancing steroid
methyltestosterone in a pre-competition test, officials said, and a
female Thai gymnast also failed a drug test for an unnamed substance.

Cambodia got its first gold when Chanmean Sok won the men's singles
petanque and Brunei-Darrusalam's Haji Raya Norleyermay was the first
on the dais for his nation after collecting silver in the martial
arts' pencak silat.

The male hockey player tested positive for steroids in a pre-
competition urine test, said Kanokphan Julakasem, head of the Sports
Authority of Thailand (SAT).

In addition to expulsion from the 11-nation games, the player will
likely be banned from competition in his sport for two years.

Dr. Chataruporn na Nakon - SAT's deputy governor for sports promotion
- said a second Thai athlete, a female gymnast, also failed a drug
test for an undisclosed substance one week before the beginning of the
games. She will receive the same punishment as given to the hockey
player, he said.

In weighlifting, Thailand's 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Wandee
Kemeaim easily won gold in the women's 58-kilogram class.

Indonesia claimed double gold in the men's. Triyatno won the 62-
kilogram class, ahead of a close contest in the 69-kilo class. Edi
Kurniawan hoisted 167 kilograms on his final clean and jerk to draw
level with Thailand's Sitthisak Suphalak's aggregate of 299 kilograms
and win gold by virtue of lower bodyweight.

In the pool, Malaysia's Chai Lin Khoo smashed the SEA Games record in
the women's 800 meters, taking more than nine seconds off the 10-year
mark with a time of 8.47.80.

Another impressive performance saw Singapore's Li Tao win two gold
medals in less than 15 minutes - first in the women's 100 backstroke
and then in the 100 butterfly.

Daniel Bego set a new Games record in the pool from lane one, winning
the men's 100 meters butterfly in 54.33 seconds, and Singapore set a
new Games mark in the men's 4x100-meters relay with 3:26.70.

Thailand's Tharnawat Worakiart in the men's 400 meters freestyle and
Singapore's Zach Ong in the men's 100 meter backstroke were Sunday's
other swimming gold medalists.

In athletics, Indonesia's Yahuza Yahuza won the men's marathon ahead
of Cambodia's Bunting Hem and Eduardo Buenavista of the Philippines.
Thailand's Sunisa Sailomyen won the women's event in front of Pa Pa of
Myanmar and Jho Ann Benayag of the Philippines.

Malaysia scored two golds in the 20-kilometer walk, with Boon Lim Teoh
winning the men's and Yo Fang Yuan the women's.

Singapore's Ying Ren Mok overhauled two Filipino opponents to win the
men's triathlon.

In the women's, Malaysia's Fui Li Kimbeleyyap got off to a strong
start in swimming and held on to win gold, with the Philippines again
forced to settle for both minor medals.

Thailand claimed gold in both the men's and women's tennis team
events, beating Indonesia in both finals. In the women's event,
Indonesia won the opening of three rubbers and was up a set in the
second singles match before Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn rallied to
win in three sets, and the host nation then prevailed in doubles.

Thailand also monopolized the golds in the men's and women's cycling
time trials, with victories by Prajak Mahawong and Monrudee Chapookam
respectively.

Thailand had the best of Sunday's rowing finals, winning three of the
five golds on offer: the women's double sculls, Bussayamas Pheangkatok
in the women's lightweight single sculls and Ruthtanapol Theppibal in
the men's single sculls.

Indonesia won the men's lightweight four and Benjamin Tolentino Jr. of
the Philippines won the men's lightweight single sculls.

In equestrian, Malaysia's Qabil Ambak prevailed in the individual
dressage.

Thailand won two of three golds on offer in fencing, as Wiradech
Kothny took out the men's individual sabre and Nunta Chantasuvannasin
the women's individual foil, but the men's individual epee was won by
Vietnam's Huu Cuong Do.

The host nation also won the men's all-round individual artistic
gymnastics through Kaewpany Rartchawat.

Vietnam swept the men's freestyle wrestling, with Duc Khang Pham
winning the 55-kilogram class, Tuan Anh Bui won the 60-kilo event, and
Doan Dung Nguyen got gold in the 66-kilo class.
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