In despair, PABBSI turns back to ABBF

In despair, PABBSI turns back to ABBF

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

The troubled Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and
Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) has decided to appeal to the
Asian Bodybuilding Federation (ABBF) to have its membership in
the body reinstated.

PABBSI secretary-general Alamsyah Widjaja said after a meeting
with officials from the National Sports Council (KONI) here on
Friday that the association would try to persuade the ABBF to
reinstate PABBSI.

The move comes just a few days after the association said it
would accept the ABBF's decision and would look for a new
international affiliation.

Affiliation with a world body is imperative for a sport
organization to ensure its membership with KONI.

With PABBSI currently having no international affiliation,
KONI has threatened to take over the arrangements of the
bodybuilding competition at next month's National Games (PON) in
Palembang, South Sumatra.

The International Bodybuilding Federation (IBBF) has also
threatened that if the bodybuilding competition at PON is managed
by the PABBSI, any bodybuilders taking part in the event could
receive a two-year ban from international tournaments.

PABBSI lost its international affiliation last year after it
was found to have backed Musclemania, an international
bodybuilding event that the two international bodies did not
endorse.

Alamsyah said a letter had been sent to the ABBF requesting
that PABBSI's membership to the organization be reinstated.

"We have sent a letter asking for an explanation as to why we
were kicked out from the federation but we have not received any
reply," he added.

However, it is unlikely the ABBF and the IBBF will repeal
their decision given that they have already recognized the newly
established Indonesian Bodybuilding Federation (FBI).

The two international organizations endorsed the Southeast
Asian Bodybuilding Championship the FBI hosted in Bali last June.

But PABBSI appears adamant, with Alamsyah saying: "KONI has
given us until November to contact the ABBF regarding the status
of our membership."

KONI is taking a somewhat diplomatic stance on the issue.

"We have asked PABBSI what rules they want to use if they want
to hold a bodybuilding competition at PON, but PABBSI's officials
are unable to answer yet," KONI's head of organizational affairs,
Hendardji, said.

Hendardji added that KONI would wait until next week for a
reply from PABBSI.

KONI will also wait for one week to decide whether the
Indonesian Hockey Association (PHSI) will be allowed to organize
a hockey competition at PON.

PHSI's involvement in the event is in question because it has
only six provincial chapters, four short of the minimum
requirement.

The PHSI has chapters in West Java, East Java, North Sumatra,
West Sumatra, Lampung and Papua.