C. Java rower fails drug test

SEMARANG (JP): Central Java rower Djodi Winarso, the bronze medalist in the 15th National Games, was found guilty of using the banned substance penipropanolamin.

A member of the Games antidoping commission, Cahyo Adi, said on Monday evening that should Central Java contest the result of the test on Sample A, it could appeal and ask that Sample B be tested at the Bangkok Doping Laboratory. However, the province would have to pay US$150,000 for the test.

The official in charge of athlete development at the National Sports Council's Central Java chapter, Dedy Kurniawan, said the chapter accepted the test result.

"This is really a bitter lesson for Central Java. We can't deny the test result as the athlete said he took the substance. Djodi himself admitted it," he said.

Djodi said he took influenza medicine three days before competing without realizing the medicine contained the banned substance.

Djodi faces a punishment of either a warning, a fine of $150,000 or a ban from competition, Dedy said. (har)