PBSI waiting for result of Sigit's second drug test<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nwill not take any action against doubles specialist Sigit
\nBudiarto until the International Badminton Federation (IBF)
\nannounces the result of a second test on a urine sample taken
\nfrom him in August.<\/p>\n
Top PBSI officials appeared defensive during a media
\nconference on Wednesday and did not attempt to explain what might
\nhave caused Sigit to fail a dope test at the Singapore Open in
\nAugust.<\/p>\n
"I'm disappointed with the IBF because they violated their own
\nrules. They said the positive result of a test on Sigit's first
\nsample was confidential, so why has it been made public?"
\nMangombar Ferdinand Siregar, the association's deputy chairman in
\ncharge of athletes development, said.<\/p>\n
"They have disobeyed the presumption of innocence for our
\nathlete," he added.<\/p>\n
The IBF announced on Tuesday that the test had detected
\nnandrolone, an anabolic steroid which is on the IOC list of
\nbanned substances. When making the announcement, the IBF admitted
\nit was unusual to make any public statement before the results of
\na mandatory second test were known.<\/p>\n
"It appears that the information has already become known
\noutside IBF and PBSI," the statement said.<\/p>\n
Sigit won the Singapore Open doubles with his long-time
\npartner Chandra Wijaya. The pair also collected the World
\nChampionship title in 1997.<\/p>\n
The world badminton body informed Sigit and the PBSI of the
\npositive result of the test on Sept. 23, one day before he
\nreceived an IOC scholarship along with Candra, women's doubles
\nplayer Deyana Lomban and boys' singles player Taufik Hidayat.<\/p>\n
Sigit is the third Indonesian badminton player to be linked to
\ndrug abuse after men's singles player Hastomo Arbi in the late
\n1980s and women's singles player Minarti Timur in 1991. The
\nlatter receive a one year ban from the IBF.<\/p>\n
Siregar said the PBSI has named a team to attend the second
\nsample test on Thursday morning. But he refused to identify the
\nofficials or where the test would be conducted.<\/p>\n
"We are out to defend him because he is our boy. We will also
\nask the IBF to explain this uncommon practice, no matter what the
\nresult of the second test is," said Siregar.<\/p>\n
"We are still convinced that Sigit did not consume any kind of
\nmedicine without first consulting a doctor," Siregar added.<\/p>\n
Pending the announcement of the result of the "B" sample test,
\nSigit will continue to follow his usual routine, Siregar said.<\/p>\n
He said the 22-year-old doubles player would continue with
\npreparations for his next tournament in Hong Kong in November and
\nthe 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December, the continent's
\nmajor sporting event, at which the doubles team of Sigit and
\nChandra were expected to win a gold medal.<\/p>\n
Siregar said PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo would disclose
\nthe results of the test and announce Sigit's punishment in the
\nevent of the test showing a positive result.<\/p>\n
PBSI doctor Michael Triangto said Sigit was never keen to take
\nany medicine, even if he was unwell.<\/p>\n
"I have known Sigit since 1996. If I give him medicine for
\nfive days, he'll only take it for the first day. He'll cure
\nhimself in his own way, by eating good food and taking plenty
\nrest," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Sigit, a native of Yogyakarta, said he drank
\nherbal medicine recommended by his masseur to gain weight on the
\neve of the Singapore Open.<\/p>\n
"But then I suffered an allergic reaction to something and
\ntook medicine from Ricky (Subagja). He used to consume it and he
\nhas never failed a dope test," Sigit said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Ricky won the 1996 Olympic gold medal with doubles partner
\nRexy Mainaky. The pair triumphed again in the Danish Open on
\nSunday. (yan)<\/p>",
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