Action over teams sabotage urged

Action over teams sabotage urged

INDRAMAYU, West Java: Top sports officials in Bandung and
Cirebon have voiced concern over the potentially grim prospects
of the West Java contingent at the upcoming National Games (PON),
if firm action, to prevent athletes from illegally switching
teams, is not taken.

"We hope that the West Java sports council imposes strict
sanctions and impedes those involved in the illegal buying of
athletes. If they do not, team outcomes at the next PON may be
unfairly influenced," Herry Mei Oloan, from Bandung, said on the
eve of the West Java Sports Games, which concluded in Indramayu
at the weekend.

Herry mentioned track and field athlete, Rachel, who was
enticed to move from Bandung to Ciamis prior to the games and won
four gold medals for her new team, Ciamis.

"We try hard to train the athletes only to end up with them
affiliated with another team at the games," Dedy Supardi, from
Cirebon, said.

The Indramayu sporting meet -- which also served as the
qualifying event for the 2004 PON, to be held in Palembang --
included teams from 23 regencies and municipalities in the West
Java province. --JP