RI's Maya rewarded SEAG gold

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia can add another gold medal to its tally from the 22nd SEA Games 2003 in Vietnam after six findings of positive doping involving Vietnamese and Myanmar athletes.

President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee Nguyen Danh Thai confirmed the six positive drug tests for banned substances in a press statement.

Indonesia's additional gold medal is for the women's 52 kilogram judo event, courtesy of Maya Fransiska, after Aye Aye Thin of Myanmar was declared positive for drugs after a meeting by the SEA Games Federation's Sports Science and Medical Committee in March.

The other five cases -- all involving Vietnamese athletes -- were women's triple jump gold medalist Nguyen Mai Quynh, double gold medalist in canoeing Hoang Hong Anh, double gold medalist in fin-swimming Pham Thiu Diu, and triple gold medalist in fin- swimming Pham Thoan Thang.

"In accordance with SEA Games Federation regulations and the results of drug testing, the medals of the positive athletes will be withdrawn," said the statement, copies of which were available at the office of the National Sports Council (KONI) here.

Besides the increase in the country's gold count to 56, Indonesia has also seen a change its silver and bronze tallies from 68 to 73 and 98 to 93 respectively.

However, the drug findings did not change the rankings in the final standings, with Vietnam and Thailand still occupying the top two places.

Vietnam, which hosted the biennial multi-event showcase in the region for the first time, has a formidable collection of 156 gold, 96 silver and 93 bronze medals.