Doping scandal time bomb set to disgrace Games

JAKARTA (JP): Illegal use of banned drugs may deal a big blow to the campaign for a clean 14th National Games after a doping control official revealed yesterday that more than three samples of urine tested positive.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the three positive samples were found after the first 500 tests were conducted at the newly dedicated doping laboratory at Rawa Kerbau in East Jakarta.

The official refused to identify the athletes and name the substances contained in the suspicious samples. There are thousands of banned drugs which are divided into six categories according to a 1990 guide issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"There is the possibility that the number of positive samples will have increased by the time we finish the tests," the official was quoted by Antara as saying. A total of 1,500 samples are being examined at the laboratory, which works under the supervision of the Sydney-based Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory.

The Australian laboratory is one of 24 laboratories which currently are authorized by the IOC to conduct drug tests.

An IOC procedure allows a second test before an athlete hears the verdict. The athlete concerned must be informed beforehand about the results of the first test, according to the procedure. The second test could be conducted in front of officials of the sports organization the athlete is affiliated with.

Chairman of the National Sports Council Wismoyo Arismunandar is expected to announce the results of the tests next week.

A swimmer and four cyclists were found guilty of using steroids in their medal-winning runs at the 13th National Games three years ago.

They received match bans ranging from six months to 15 months from their respective sports organizations. The sports council also stripped them of their medals and records.

No less than 5,000 athletes participated in the 14th Games, which concluded on Sept. 20. During the Games, 126 meet, 72 national, 13 Southeast Asian Games and 30 Asian records were broken. (amd)