National marathoner Soh Rui Yong files defamation writ against Singapore Athletics

SINGAPORE — A spat between national marathoner Soh Rui Yong and track-and-field governing body Singapore Athletics (SA) shows no signs of resolving. The athlete said on Wednesday (Sept 11) that his lawyers have issued a defamation writ and statement of claim to the association.

The tiff arose last month over Mr Soh being rejected from Team Singapore for the South-east Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines, and defamatory comments allegedly made by SA in the wake of the decision. 

Following that, Mr Soh threatened to sue SA’s executive director Syed Abdul Malik Aljunied for making allegedly defamatory comments on social media and filed a defamation writ against him.

On Aug 1, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) turned down SA’s nomination of Mr Soh to be part of the SEA Games, citing "numerous instances" in which he displayed conduct "that falls short of the standards of attitude and behaviour" it expects from its athletes. Mr Soh is a two-time SEA Games marathon winner.

Mr Soh had taken issue with SA's statement on Aug 2, in which it said that he had breached its Athlete Code of Conduct on "several occasions".

Join our Telegram channel to get TODAY's top stories on mobile:

*TODAY's WhatApp news service will cease from November 2019.

SA had also blocked Mr Soh from its social media platforms, including its WhatsApp chat groups, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, to prevent him from posting on them last month. 

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Soh said: “I will do what I must to clear my name of defamatory accusations by the association, and let it be known to all sports officials in Singapore that should you wish to publicly denounce an athlete, you better be able to back it up with basis. Or else, you can and will be held accountable."

In response to media queries on Wednesday, Mr Soh said that SA’s statements against him on Aug 2 were “without basis” and he hopes to clear his name.

“Despite numerous requests at seeking clarification vide correspondence from my solicitors and social media, SA has to date failed, neglected and refused to provide any particulars of the alleged breaches of the code or transgressions committed by me,” Mr Soh added. 

As for the defamation writ he filed against Mr Malik, Mr Soh took issue with the official for making allegedly defamatory comments against him in an Aug 17 Facebook post. 

Mr Malik had posted a photo of himself with two children. In the caption, he wrote that he hoped one of the children would take up the 400m hurdles sporting event, and added that they should be “careful” of the marathon as it could “end up messing up with your mind and heart”.

Mr Soh has demanded that Mr Malik pay him compensation and issue a public apology.

When contacted on Wednesday, the SA said it had replied Mr Soh through its lawyer.  

In response, Mr Soh's lawyer Clarence Lun said: "Even though SA had replied to the letters of demand... our client takes the view that the responses have thus far been unsatisfactory and without proper clarification and explanation on the basis for their statements made."