Malaysian sepak takraw chief facing life ban over dispute

"We do not wash our dirty linen in public," Chalerm Chaiwatcharaporn, deputy president of the Asian sepak takraw federation (ISTAF) told Reuters on Saturday.
"This is an attempt to smear and defame us. This is the most serious issue we have faced since this sport began."
Sepak takraw, a dazzling display of acrobatic overhead kicks which both Thailand and Malaysia claim to have invented, is best described as volleyball with the feet, and normally uses a small rattan ball.
Ismail, a member of ISTAF, claimed the new "Marathon Gen II" ball used at the SEA Games this week was dangerous and against the sport's regulations, although several member countries gave the new ball rave reviews.