KONI ready to replace Hasan

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has three candidates ready to replace Mohamad "Bob" Hasan on the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"The suspension (of Bob Hasan) is not yet final because the IOC is still waiting for reports from its ethics commission. The ethics commission has yet to contact KONI to get our opinion," KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo said on Wednesday.

"But if the IOC decides to suspend Hasan's membership, we expect his seat will be given to another Indonesian. KONI has prepared three candidates to fill the vacant position."

Arie was commenting on the IOC's decision to suspend Hasan on Tuesday after receiving a recommendation from its ethics commission. Hasan is currently serving a six-year jail term for corruption.

"KONI has approached and received support from Southeast Asian countries that (Hasan's) replacement should be an Indonesian. But I can't give you the names now because KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar has yet to make a final decision on which candidate we will nominate (to replace Hasan)," Arie said.

"However, I can guarantee you that all three of the candidates are known for their good track records in sports."

"KONI can only nominate a candidate and recommend that the replacement (for Hasan) be an Indonesian, but the IOC has the authority to decide."

Arie also said that KONI was ready to help if the IOC's ethics commission visited Indonesia to gather information on Hasan's case.

"We are prepared, but I don't know what information would have to be given because the commission has not yet sent any questions or a delegation," he said.

The ethics commission's chief investigator, Francois Werner, said he would travel here if necessary to gather further information on Hasan.

"We need to make further inquiries to find out what (Hasan) has done and why he has done it," he was quoted as saying by AP on Tuesday.

Even as he serves his jail term, Hasan still chairs the Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) and the Indonesian Gymnastics Association.

Interviewed separately, PASI secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said that the decision by the IOC had nothing to do with Hasan's position with PASI. (nvn)