PABBSI must clarify int'l affiliation

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.