Cycling body awaits doping decision from int'l body

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Sports Cycle Federation is still waiting for the International Cycling Union to punish national cyclist Tonton Susanto, who was found to have used banned substances in the 19th SEA Games.

The federation's vice chairman, Hario Tilarso, told reporters yesterday that Tonton, who won two golds in the Games, did not consume the substance intentionally.

Hario, who had spoken to Tonton, said that the cyclist received the Reactivan medicine, which contained the stimulant fencafamine, from "one of his family members".

"Tonton felt sick on Friday, two days before the competition. But on Sunday, he didn't report to the medical committee during the urine collection that he had consumed the medicine. Well, that's his fault but I think it's because he didn't realize that he should have reported it," he said.

Tonton was found to have used fencafamine after winning the 40 kilometers Individual Time Trial on Oct. 12. His other sample, which was taken after winning the road race five days after his first gold, was negative.

The organizers announced that his gold would most likely go to silver medalist Victor Espiritu of the Philippines.

Hario said: "The decision to hand over the gold must wait until the international federation announces its punishment to Tonton. If he is not proven guilty, the medal still belongs to him."

Hario rejected reports that fencafamine was included among heavy stimulants.

"Fencafamine is a light stimulant. So I hope Tonton will get a light punishment," he said.

"I know him as a good athlete. He has never used drugs before."

Hario expects the federation to only warn or fine, and not suspend, Tonton.

Hario, who is also a sports medical doctor, said the main problem in Southeast Asian countries was that athletes and coaches still lacked knowledge about banned substances.

"We still have to popularize the understanding of doping to the athletes so they won't make any mistakes in the future," he said.

The Games organizers announced Tuesday that four athletes had used stimulants.

They are Tonton, Myanmar bodybuilder Khing Maung Htwe, and marksman Nuanwan Kerdsumran and decathlete David Jimsumruay, both of Thailand.

Khing, who won the bronze in the 75 kg division, tested positive for using phenylpropanolamine. Both Kerdsumran, who won the gold in the women's air rifle, and Jimsumruay, who won the gold in the decathlon, had used salbutamol.

All four athletes are likely to lose their medals. (yan)