Bodybuilding star to quit in disgust<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's bodybuilding star Ade Rai said he was going to quit
\nthe national team for the upcoming 2002 Asian Games, citing
\nunfair treatment from the Asian Body Building Federation (ABBF).<\/p>\n
Ade even suggested the national bodybuilding team completely
\nabandon its bid at the four-yearly multi-event sporting showcase
\nto be held in Busan, South Korea.<\/p>\n
Ade's statement followed a threat by the ABBF to ban him from
\nthe Asian Games for staring in an advertisement promoting a
\nvitamin supplement called Twin Lab.<\/p>\n
\"What I learned from the issue is that Asian bodybuilding is
\nbeing politicized,\" Ade told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday
\nevening.<\/p>\n
At its congress in Melaka, Malaysia, in which the Asian
\nBodybuilding Championship was concurrently held from May 24 to
\n27, the ABBF also barred a number of athletes from the Asian
\nGames for reasons including: being involved in commercial ads;
\ndoping and involvement with Musclemania.<\/p>\n
Among those affected were five Indonesians, who were deemed to
\nhave breached federation rules by taking part in Musclemania in
\nHong Kong in 1999.<\/p>\n
The five -- Syafrizaldi, Hendra, Komara Ditayana, Ricky
\nSyamsuri and Mulyono -- have been suspended for six months from
\nABBF-sanctioned international events.<\/p>\n
\"There are a few countries -- I don't need to mention them --
\nwhich apparently don't want Indonesia to participate in a multi-
\nevent tournament,\" Ade said.<\/p>\n
He said that the Asian federation was concocting cases against
\nthe Indonesian athletes.<\/p>\n
\"Why did they come to the decision only recently while the
\nincident took place in 1999? Why should it be six months? It
\nlooks to have been already fixed that our friends will miss out
\non the Asian Games by the time they complete their bans.<\/p>\n
\"I'm determined to quit. And it will also be better for
\nIndonesia not to take part at all in the bodybuilding competition
\nin South Korea.<\/p>\n
\"This is about pride and dignity ... our pride is being
\ntampered with,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ade tried to remain positive saying: \"One thing to have
\nconsoled me is that Indonesian bodybuilders are apparently the
\nathletes many countries are so scared of that they have conspired
\nto banish us.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bodybuilding-star-to-quit-in-disgust-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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