KONI supports urine tests to detect illegal drugs use

KONI supports urine tests to detect illegal drugs use

BOGOR (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will support
sports organizations that undertake urine tests on athletes
suspected of using illegal drugs.

After witnessing the Thomas and Uber Cup teams simulation at
the Padjadjaran Stadium on Thursday night the council's vice
chairman, Arie Sudewo, said KONI and all its members had declared
war against illegal drugs at the national plenary meeting in
February.

"Our young athletes are expected to do well in international
events so we must protect them from the bad influence of illegal
drugs."

Arie was responding to news that some sports organizations,
including the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) and the
All Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), were organizing urine
tests to detect the possibility use of illegal drugs by their
athletes.

"If the organizations want to undertake tests, KONI will
support them. I urge all organizations to arrange similar tests.
This is not to look for people's faults but it is necessary to
protect our athletes from consuming drugs."

"KONI has yet to take action from a medical point of view
because we hope the organizations will initiate the action.
Athletes belong to their organizations. Should there be some
which need our help, we will provide."

Arie said the environment was the main factor behind someone
becoming involved in illegal drugs.

"Illegal drugs not only threaten our athletes but the entire
younger generation throughout the country."

Arie, who is also the Olympic Games executive training
director, said if there were athletes found to be using drugs,
the sports community should not rush to condemn them.

"We must give them medical therapy to stop them from taking
drugs. We should not leave them alone but hug them. We don't kick
them out of our community but urge them to have therapy for some
time before they are cured and able to return to our community."

As KONI has yet to formulate regulations on illegal drug
consumption, Arie said the council would study the matter before
legislating on it at the plenary meeting in January.

Separately, men's badminton player Taufik Hidayat was shocked
to learn his association was planning to stage urine tests, as
the association's executive director Karsono said earlier this
week.

"PBSI must confirm who is involved with drugs. It really gives
us bad a image. We are ashamed to leave the dormitory as people
are suspecting us."

"What if none of us are using drugs. Won't PBSI be ashamed of
having announced it first to the press?"

Karsono said PBSI suspected 10 shuttlers of consuming illegal
drugs and would undertake urine tests to prove its suspicions.

World number two men's singles shuttler Hendrawan, a former
board of players deputy, said he had no ideas on the matter.

"I don't know if any of us are taking illegal drugs because I
don't have any evidence."

Men's doubles specialist Sigit Budiarto and Flandy Limpele
said: "I'm sure none of us are taking illegal drugs because we
all realize the consequence of taking such drugs. I personally
won't do that foolish thing," said Sigit, who was banned for a
year in 1998 for consuming banned substances.

Flandy said: "I was very shocked to hear the news. I don't
believe any of us will consume illegal drugs. What for? It would
be detected anyway in a doping test."

Kompas reported about 60 football players were taking illegal
drugs as a way to stimulate their physical condition prior to
matches.

Persebaya player Eri Irianto was suspected to have died due to
a drug overdose. Doctors have claimed he suffered from a "brain
injury". (yan)