PABBSI must clarify int'l affiliation

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

The troubled Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) has been given until the end of July to clarify its international affiliation or the National Sports Council (KONI) will proceed with its plan to take over bodybuilding at the National Games.

KONI issued its plan for the bodybuilding competition at the National Games in Palembang, South Sumatra, in September, in the wake of PABBSI's removal from membership of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation (ABBF) and the International Bodybuilding Federation (IBBF).

The Indonesian body was kicked out from its international affiliations last year after PABBSI was deemed to have supported Musclemania, an international bodybuilding event that the two international bodies did not endorse.

KONI's chief in charge of development affairs Djoko Pramono said that they had sent a letter to PABBSI to seek clarification.

"If we don't get replies by the end of July, KONI can decide to remove bodybuilding from PABBSI's hands and take over the bodybuilding competition at the National Games (PON)," Djoko told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday.

"According to KONI rules, an association must have an affiliation with an international federation to be a KONI member," Djoko said.

KONI's warning also came after the IBBF sent a letter saying that bodybuilders taking part in PON would not be allowed to join international events under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if PABBSI got involved in PON.

With PABBSI likely to be deprived of its involvement in PON, KONI will probably turn to the newly established Indonesian Bodybuilding Federation (FBI).

FBI, which was established by breakaway officials of PABBSI, has yet to be recognized by KONI, on the basis that it does not fulfill a requirement that a body must already be able to stage national tournaments in five years before being included in KONI membership.

However, the ABBF gave its endorsement in June when the FBI held a regional event in Bali.

Interviewed separately, PABBSI secretary-general Alamsyah Wijaya said that it was thinking about looking for another international affiliation.

"There are many other bodybuilding federations in the world. They are not only restricted to the ABBF and IBBF," Alamsyah said.

Apart from the problem overshadowing its bodybuilding affairs, PABBSI has also been accused of manipulating data in its selection of an Indonesian weightlifting team for the Olympics.