PBSI to appeal Sigit's one-year suspension handed down by IBF
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) will file an appeal to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) over a one-year suspension it has imposed on doubles specialist Sigit Budiarto.
PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata, said on Thursday that chairman Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, who is also the Army Chief of Staff, made the decision after a meeting with some of his staff.
"Sigit has agreed to appeal, and Pak Subagyo has ordered us to complete the draft of our appeal as soon as possible," Leo said, adding that Sigit's approval was compulsory to the appeal.
In its appeal, PBSI wants the IBF to halve the term of Sigit's suspension, according to Leo.
The IBF punished Sigit for using nandrolone, an anabolic steroid that is listed as a banned substance by the International Olympic Committee, during the Singapore Open in August.
Sigit won the tournament with Candra, with who he also triumphed in the 1997 World Championships.
His suspension took effect on Oct. 22, 1998, and will end on Nov. 15, 1999.
The IBF also fined the PBSI US$2,000 over the doping case, and ordered Sigit and Candra to forfeit their prize money of $10,115.
Because the ban will prevent Sigit from playing in next month's Asian Games, the PBSI has picked Tony Gunawan to be Candra's partner for the event.
Sigit, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, said in Bandung that he wanted to appeal for the sake of his career.
But he declined further comments, saying that everything is being handled by the PBSI.
Leo said that even if the IBF refuses to cut the duration of the suspension, the PBSI could ask the world badminton body to begin the ban from the day Sigit failed the drug test in August, because he has not competed since then.
Leo said that the appeal was intended to rescue Sigit's chance of winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games.
The Olympic qualifying rounds run from the first of May 1999 to the end of April 2000.
"Sigit may qualify for the Olympics without having to appeal, but the problem is who will partner him?" Leo said.
Candra has said that he wants Tony to become his permanent partner. If Candra resumes his partnership with Sigit after the ban ends, the pair must start from the very bottom to once again reach the world's top 10.
Only the top 16 teams in the world are eligible to play in the Olympics.
Leo said that Sigit can at least play in the 2000 Japan Open, South Korea Open, Swiss Open, All England, Sweden Open, the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships and the World Championships, to collect qualifying points for the Olympics.
"If Sigit and his partner can win five tournaments, I believe they'll qualify. Men's doubles is not as competitive as the men's singles because of fewer competitors," Leo said. (yan)