Dubai: A top official from the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) has reiterated the Victory Team's commitment in sorting out the issue surrounding the suspension of throttleman Nader Bin Hendi during the final race of the UIM Class One World Powerboat Championship last weekend.
"We have till January 15 to provide the evidence before the Anti-Doping Hearing Panel, and Victory Team has been collecting evidence to support Nader's case. We also have a top-class lawyer working on the case and in due course everything will be sorted out to prove that Nader is not guilty," Huraiz Al Mur Huraiz, Chairman of the DIMC Sports Committee told Gulf News.
After a hearing on November 28, Victory 3 throttleman Bin Hendi was provisionally suspended by the UIM Anti-Doping Hearing Panel led by Kimon Papachristopoulos for the reported use of methylhexaneamine after testing was carried out at the Italian Grand Prix held from October 14 to 15.
Victory 3's 44 points were deducted pushing the Dubai team into third overall. But the stand-in pairing of Arif Saif Al Zafe'in and Mohammad Al Marri hit back winning the last two races of the the SkyDubai-Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix at the Mina Seyahi, along with the four bonus points to claim a record eleventh world title for Victory Team last Saturday.
"We've had discussions with some of the UIM officials and they have expressed their intention to put an end to putting an end to the entire episode. But as of now we are keen to get the evidence right so that we make a proper submission during the January 15 hearing," Huraiz said.
Victory Team has also recruited a top US-based lawyer to fight their cause. "We fully understand that Nader is a victim here, and we also know that even if it has happened, it is an undeliberate act from him," he added.
He further insisted that a sport like powerboat racing does needs the use of drugs as 60 per cent of it depends on the boat and the remaining on the skills of the driver and throttleman.
"Last weekend was a good example where we pitted our reserve throttleman [Mohammad Al Marri] and won both the races here," Huraiz noted.
"We are convinced 100 per cent on his innocence," he added.
