Doping tests to be released next week

Doping tests to be released next week

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council Wismoyo
Arismunandar is scheduled to announce the results of the doping
tests from the 14th National Games after Sept. 29.

Secretary-general of the Games Eddy Widodo said on Monday that
he could not give an exact date for the announcement.

"But the doping commission will finish testing 1,200 urine
samples on Sept. 29. The results will be presented to the
chairman," he said.

Eddy said that the new Indonesian doping laboratory, which was
inaugurated in August, can test 50 samples a day.

The laboratory, located in Rawa Kerbau, East Jakarta, was
built in cooperation with the Sydney-based Australian Sports Drug
Testing Laboratory in preparation for the 19th Southeast Asian
Games next year in Jakarta.

Fourteen experts, including four Australians, are conducting
the tests.

The Rp 5 billion (US$2.1 million) lab allows Indonesia to
conduct its own doping tests. Indonesia used to send its samples
to China or Australia, two of the three laboratories in the Asia
Pacific region sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.
The third one is in Japan.

It will receive accreditation from the International Olympics
Committee if the laboratory can test at least 2,000 samples in
one year.

"To reach 2,000 is not difficult. Lots of national and
international sports events will be staged here. And next year,
we'll host the Southeast Asian Games," Eddy said.

Eddy said that the Games did not have any problems with
funding.

"Although it was not as much as we had expected, there was no
lack of funds," he said.

The organizer originally expected at least Rp 500 million in
profit from ticket sales, but it only received Rp 440 million.

Out of 35 sports, only boxing, swimming, taekwondo,
volleyball, badminton, track and field, basketball, and soccer
made a profit from ticket sales. (yan)