Hariyanto joins Thomas Cup team

Hariyanto joins Thomas Cup team

JAKARTA (JP): Hariyanto Arbi finally joined the Thomas Cup
team on Monday after defeating compatriot Budi Santoso 15-8, 15-
8, in an internal selection at the Indonesian Badminton Center in
Cipayung, East Jakarta.

The complete list of both Thomas and Uber Cups teams will be
announced by the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) on
Wednesday evening at the latest, prior to the simulation at the
Padjdjaran Stadium in Bogor on Thursday.

PBSI official in charge of athletes development Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar said the meeting staged at chairman Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo's residence on Monday evening did not discuss team
line-ups.

"We will have meetings tomorrow before sending the line-up to
the International Badminton Federation (IBF) for the Wednesday
deadline," he said.

Hariyanto, nicknamed Hari, joins the world ranked number two
Hendrawan, world ranked five Taufik Hidayat and world ranked six
Marlev Mainaky in team aiming to win the cup for the 12th time.

In the men's doubles, Indonesia will likely include Sigit
Budiarto to enable the team match him with Candra Wijaya, whose
partner Tony Gunawan is still recovering from a shoulder injury.

In the Uber Cup team, Indonesia will rely on Lidya
Djaelawidjaja, Ellen Angelina, Yuli Marfuah and Niniek Masrikah.
In the doubles, Elysa Nathanael and Deyana Lomban and Etty Tantri
and Cynthia Tuwankotta will definitely join the team. The third
doubles has yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, the association's executive director Karsono said
PBSI would stage a urine test to scrutinize shuttlers accused of
consuming banned substances.

"We have received information from many people saying that
some shuttlers have been taking banned substances, most of them
ecstasy."

Karsono said PBSI would undergo urine tests on 10 suspected
shuttlers.

"We really want to test all the shuttlers here but due to the
expense, PBSI can only afford 10 tests."

The National Sports Council's (KONI) head of sports science
commission, Carmen Jahya, said in a telephone interview that
should PBSI undergo urine tests, they should be conducted without
any prior notification.

"If PBSI wants to conduct tests, (it should) do it suddenly.
If the suspected athletes have taken ecstasy or shabu-shabu
(crystal methamphetamine), they can erase their tracks by
consuming lots of water. The evidence will disappear within two
days. It's useless," she said.

Carmen said ecstasy and shabu-shabu were produced from
amphetamine or derivatives of it and were by themselves
nonaddictive.

"But I don't buy the rumors. I know our shuttlers have good
manners." (yan)