Indonesian lifter fails dope test at Kuala Lumpur SEA Games

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)