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)