I was never banned for life by World Athletics, says Malaysia Athletics president Karim Ibrahim

Datuk Karim Ibrahim finally breaks his silence over his role as Malaysia Athletics (MA) president, stressing he was never banned for life by World Athletics.

In a statement this afternoon, Karim said he acknowledged the “recent scrutiny” over his association, adding that “open discussions and differing views are part of the evolving landscape of sports governance in Malaysia”.

He added that constructive dialogue, rather than destructive division, will strengthen the organisation as it moves into a new era of reform and development.

“I am aware of the scrutiny, and I accept that it comes with the responsibility of leading a national sports body,” Karim was quoted in the statement issued by MA.

“My past, both the challenges and the contributions, is part of my career journey in Malaysian athletics. I do not distance myself from it and the lessons I have learned continue to guide how I lead today.

“However, I must also stress and clarify that I was never banned for life by World Athletics as claimed by many parties. This is a false allegation and I reserve all my rights in this matter,” he added.

The Sports Commissioner’s Office is reportedly investigating MA after a constitutional change allowed Datuk Karim Ibrahim to helm the association – despite claims that Karim had been banned by World Athletics from holding office. A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in 2018 upheld that Karim was guilty of misusing athlete allowances during a 2009 training camp and had advised athletes to evade doping tests before the 2011 SEA Games.

The statement added that MA’s last constitutional amendment process underwent three rounds of deliberation at its Council level which was subsequently adopted unanimously at its 2024 Annual General Meeting and later approved by the Sports Commissioner. The statement pointed out that during all these discussions and decision-making processes, Karim was not a council member of MA and did not participate in the entire amendment process.

Karim added: “At this stage of my career, it is no longer about me. I have only a few more years left to contribute to Malaysian athletics, and I want those years to count. My focus now is on succession planning, building new leaders, empowering young administrators, and ensuring that the federation remains strong long after my time.”

“Let us enhance our systems, elevate sports governance, and restore pride in Malaysian athletics. Judge me not by past narratives, but by the structures we build today for the next generation.”

The statement also said that MA “may” establish a special committee to look into governance and integrity independently, made up of external experts and former athletes.

The statement read that the committee will review the federation’s internal processes, integrity and governance guidelines, so that they are aligned with World Athletics’ standards.

“Good governance is the backbone of any successful sport,” Karim added.

“We welcome independent review because strong institutions must be built on transparency, fairness, and accountability,” he added.