KONI bans PABBSI from handling b'building

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

After having been stripped of its membership in Asian and international bodybuilding associations, the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) has now been banned from organizing bodybuilding events at home.

The decision was taken in a meeting held by the National Sports Council (KONI) here on Friday.

Council vice chairwoman Rita Subowo said the council had decided to ban PABBSI from supervising bodybuilding programs in the country.

"The ban is effective as of today," Rita said.

PABBSI officials were invited to the meeting but did not attend.

An official said KONI might reconsider reinstating PABBSI's membership if the latter could affiliate with a world bodybuilding association before KONI's annual meeting in January.

Affiliation with a world body is a criteria for a sport organization's membership in KONI.

PABBSI was kicked out of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation (ABBF) and the International Bodybuilding Federation (IBBF) last year after PABBSI supported Musclemania, an international bodybuilding event the two international bodies did not endorse.

PABBSI is appealing to the ABBF but the latter is unlikely to repeal its decision as it has now endorsed the newly established Indonesian Bodybuilding Federation.

This means PABBSI will be prevented from running the bodybuilding competition at the upcoming National Games (PON) in Palembang, South Sumatera next month. The competition will be held under the auspices of KONI.

Another organization denied entry to the PON games is the Indonesian Hockey Association (PHSI), which does not have the minimum 10 provincial chapters required for its participation.

The PHSI has branches in West Java, East Java, North Sumatera, West Sumatera, Lampung and Papua.

The group claimed to have set up another four chapters in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, South Sumatera, Banten and Central Java but KONI requires the PHSI to hold an extraordinary meeting to verify the new memberships.

"If the PHSI fails to hold an extraordinary meeting by December then KONI will cancel its membership," head of organizational affairs Hendardji said on Friday.