Indonesian

Indonesian
lifter fails
dope test

JAKARTA (JP): National weightlifting coach Imron Rosadi
apologized on Friday to the country's sports community after one
of his charges failed a dope test at the recently concluded
Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The Kuala Lumpur SEA Games organizing committee has revealed
that their doping commission found a psychotropic substance in
sample A taken from Gustar Junianto's urine in random tests
conducted during the 10-day event.

Gustar had his gold medal in the 62-kilogram division stripped
from him and is facing a ban if he fails the return test. Tests
on sample B have always been used to confirm the results of tests
on sample A.

Consequently, Indonesia's medal collection was reduced to 71
golds.

"I apologize to all the Indonesian people and, in particular,
the people of Lampung for this ordeal," Imron told Antara from
his base camp in Pringsewu, Lampung.

Imron's proteges shone in Kuala Lumpur, winning three gold
medals.

"Although we are allowed to appeal, I have to accept this
biting reality. It has given me a stern lesson and allows me to
reflect so that such a case will never happen again," Imron said.

Gustar, 21, won his gold with a total lift of 175 kg after
hoisting 120 kg in the snatch and 155 kg in the clean-and-jerk.

Imron admitted that his charge had taken traditional herbal
medicines prior to the competition.

Asked about the punishment Gustar was facing, Imron said he
would give the lifter more opportunities to make amends for his
violation.

"I will continue training him with a hope that he will perform
better in the future," said Imron, who has produced many of the
country's best weighlifters.

He suggested that the public avoid blowing out of proportion
the dope case involving his athlete.

In the previous SEA Games in 1999, an Indonesian pencak silat
fighter, Wahyuni, failed a dope test after defeating Nguyen Minh
Le of Vietnam in the women's class E (65 kg - 70 kg) final.

But the games organizers acquitted the Indonesian of the dope
charge and allowed her to keep her gold medal on the grounds that
she had not been informed by her sports organization that she had
taken a banned substance.

Wahyuni claimed she had been using a medicated spray since
1996, after delivering her first child. (amd)