Sigit suspended for a year for doping
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)