Kurniawan, Mursyid and Kuncoro to play soccer again

JAKARTA (JP): After weeks of uncertainty, the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has announced a shock decision to allow Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and Kuncoro of the PSM Makassar soccer club and Mursyid Effendi from Persebaya Surabaya to return to the soccer field.

PSSI secretary-general Tri Goestoro said the decision was reached after a recommendation from the Wijaya Kusuma Sports Campus, which had been observing and conducting medical checks on the three players since last month as they were alleged to have been consuming shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine).

"The campus recommended that we allow them to play soccer on the condition that they take certain precautions every time they finish competing. The precautionary measures will be urine testing and others. Their clubs can also help supervise their daily activities," he said.

The campus report, signed by team leader Dr. M. Sarengat, said the three players had consumed shabu-shabu when socializing and for temporary pleasure.

"But they learned that taking shabu-shabu could enhance their spirits and reduce weariness," said Tri, who read the report at a media briefing on Friday.

The report also said the players only used it "once", without further reference to any other occasion. The observation team, consisting of five counselors and one psychiatrist, said it could not eliminate any possible habits of taking illegal drugs afterward, but it said that there had been no proof of repeated use.

The report further assumed that the three players had developed a habit of being untruthful and that their behavior was asocial. It said that this was obvious in Kurniawan, who used to be one of the top national strikers.

"The assumption is hard to prove as we've been unable to find any clear evidence. During the observation at the sports campus, they never showed any withdrawal symptoms, which often accompany addiction," Tri said.

Kuncoro admitted earlier in May that he took shabu-shabu in a room he was sharing with Kurniawan at the Weta Hotel in Surabaya, prior to a match against Petrokimia Gresik on April 11.

He said he was persuaded by Mursyid to take the drug but Mursyid said it was Kurniawan who encouraged him to take the shabu-shabu. Kurniawan has refuted Mursyid's statement.

Meanwhile, Kuncoro's confession has cost him a sanction from PSM.

Tri said Kuncoro's confession would be annulled because the drug test he underwent at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya was not in line with the correct procedure.

"Athletes or players who consume illegal drugs must be tested at the Jakarta Drug Testing Laboratory, which is accredited by international sports bodies. The way the medics treated Kuncoro's urine was not acceptable. So Kuncoro's test result is not valid," he said. The Jakarta Drug Testing Laboratory is located in Rawasari in Central Jakarta.

He also said that PSSI had earlier approved Kuncoro's confession because it had insufficient knowledge about handling doping cases.

"We don't know how to deal with doping cases. That's our weakness. Hopefully, we can prevent illegal drug use in the future," Tri said. (ivy)