Sigit suspended for a year for doping
JAKARTA (JP): The International Badminton Federation (IBF) has suspended Indonesian men's doubles player Sigit Budiarto from competition for one year for using anabolic steroid.
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) was quick to respond on Tuesday to the ban. Its deputy chairman, Agus Wirahadikusumah, said an appeal would be filed within 14 days as suggested by the IBF.
The IBF announced after a hearing with Sigit on Monday that the 22-year-old shuttler's urine samples, selected in a random doping test during the Singapore Open in August, were positive for nandrolone, included on the International Olympic Committee's list of banned substances.
Sigit was also fined US$2,000.
The Yogyakarta native won the Singapore Open with Candra Wijaya but they will have to forfeit their $10,115 prize money and the world ranking points they gained, Reuters reported.
Sigit, who also won the 1997 World Championships title with his longtime partner, will serve the suspension until Nov. 15, 1999.
"We are determined to be proactive in tackling drugs in sport," said IBF president Lu Shengrong of China, a member of the International Olympic Committee who serves on the IOC's working group on drugs, in Cheltenham, England.
Agus said the PBSI would ask the IBF to halve the term of punishment.
"Sigit deserves a milder penalty because of his great contribution to the IBF in expanding the sport's market. The IBF has gained profits from Sigit's performance so far," Agus said.
He added that Indonesia would be prepared to pay a higher penalty to have the duration of Sigit's suspension reduced.
A PBSI contingent of doctor Michael Triangto, athlete development chairman Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar and Indonesia's representative o the IBF Justian Suhandinata accompanied Sigit during the hearing.
Agus said he had instructed the group to warn the IBF that Indonesia would quit the world badminton organization if Sigit received a two-year suspension.
Despite the punishment, Agus said hope remained that Sigit would qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
"The problem is who will partner him when he returns to competition next year."
Candra often teams with Tony Gunawan in Sigit's absence and the pair will also play in the Asian Games.
Agus said Sigit would remain in the national training program even though he could not participate in competition.
The dope case is the second to mar Indonesia's illustrious badminton record since women's singles player Minarti Timur was banned in 1991 for use of a stimulant. Like Sigit, Minarti claimed she took the drug unintentionally. (yan)