KONI to intensify drug warnings

KONI to intensify drug warnings

JAKARTA (JP): KONI will intensify the dissemination of
information on drug testing rules, following an announcement that
national Pencak silat martial art athlete Ni Made Wahyuni failed
a drug test conducted by Brunei Darussalam, the 1999 Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games organizer.

KONI deputy chairman Arie Sudewo said on Monday athletes
should recognize the banned substances in the banned drug list
issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the types
of medications which contained banned substances.

"We might know the substances which are banned by the IOC, but
here, the athletes also consume traditional herbal medicines,
which could also contain the substance listed in the illegal drug
list," he said.

Wahyuni denied the allegation that she used banned substances,
but admitted that she used a spray medication for asthma when she
experienced asthma-related breathing difficulties.

Arie also said many athletes and coaches were unwilling to
read the pocket-size booklet on illegal drugs, which were
distributed prior to the Games.

"They accepted the booklet but do not read it," he said. (ivy)