Kurniawan, Mursyid and Kuncoro to play soccer again
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)