KONI supports urine tests to detect illegal drugs use<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will support
\nsports organizations that undertake urine tests on athletes
\nsuspected of using illegal drugs.<\/p>\n
After witnessing the Thomas and Uber Cup teams simulation at
\nthe Padjadjaran Stadium on Thursday night the council's vice
\nchairman, Arie Sudewo, said KONI and all its members had declared
\nwar against illegal drugs at the national plenary meeting in
\nFebruary.<\/p>\n
\"Our young athletes are expected to do well in international
\nevents so we must protect them from the bad influence of illegal
\ndrugs.\"<\/p>\n
Arie was responding to news that some sports organizations,
\nincluding the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) and the
\nAll Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), were organizing urine
\ntests to detect the possibility use of illegal drugs by their
\nathletes.<\/p>\n
\"If the organizations want to undertake tests, KONI will
\nsupport them. I urge all organizations to arrange similar tests.
\nThis is not to look for people's faults but it is necessary to
\nprotect our athletes from consuming drugs.\"<\/p>\n
\"KONI has yet to take action from a medical point of view
\nbecause we hope the organizations will initiate the action.
\nAthletes belong to their organizations. Should there be some
\nwhich need our help, we will provide.\"<\/p>\n
Arie said the environment was the main factor behind someone
\nbecoming involved in illegal drugs.<\/p>\n
\"Illegal drugs not only threaten our athletes but the entire
\nyounger generation throughout the country.\"<\/p>\n
Arie, who is also the Olympic Games executive training
\ndirector, said if there were athletes found to be using drugs,
\nthe sports community should not rush to condemn them.<\/p>\n
\"We must give them medical therapy to stop them from taking
\ndrugs. We should not leave them alone but hug them. We don't kick
\nthem out of our community but urge them to have therapy for some
\ntime before they are cured and able to return to our community.\"<\/p>\n
As KONI has yet to formulate regulations on illegal drug
\nconsumption, Arie said the council would study the matter before
\nlegislating on it at the plenary meeting in January.<\/p>\n
Separately, men's badminton player Taufik Hidayat was shocked
\nto learn his association was planning to stage urine tests, as
\nthe association's executive director Karsono said earlier this
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"PBSI must confirm who is involved with drugs. It really gives
\nus bad a image. We are ashamed to leave the dormitory as people
\nare suspecting us.\"<\/p>\n
\"What if none of us are using drugs. Won't PBSI be ashamed of
\nhaving announced it first to the press?\"<\/p>\n
Karsono said PBSI suspected 10 shuttlers of consuming illegal
\ndrugs and would undertake urine tests to prove its suspicions.<\/p>\n
World number two men's singles shuttler Hendrawan, a former
\nboard of players deputy, said he had no ideas on the matter.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know if any of us are taking illegal drugs because I
\ndon't have any evidence.\"<\/p>\n
Men's doubles specialist Sigit Budiarto and Flandy Limpele
\nsaid: \"I'm sure none of us are taking illegal drugs because we
\nall realize the consequence of taking such drugs. I personally
\nwon't do that foolish thing,\" said Sigit, who was banned for a
\nyear in 1998 for consuming banned substances.<\/p>\n
Flandy said: \"I was very shocked to hear the news. I don't
\nbelieve any of us will consume illegal drugs. What for? It would
\nbe detected anyway in a doping test.\"<\/p>\n
Kompas reported about 60 football players were taking illegal
\ndrugs as a way to stimulate their physical condition prior to
\nmatches.<\/p>\n
Persebaya player Eri Irianto was suspected to have died due to
\na drug overdose. Doctors have claimed he suffered from a \"brain
\ninjury\". (yan)<\/p>",
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