Sports officials tightlipped over SEAG doping
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian sports organizations remained tightlipped on Tuesday regarding an Indonesian athlete who tested positive for drugs during the recently concluded Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesian weightlifter Gustar Junianto must relinquish his 62-kilogram class gold medal after testing positive for a banned substance during the Games.
The National Sports Council (KONI) was still in the dark about the case and had not received official notification from the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games Organizing Committee (KULSOC).
"I haven't received the official notification because the case is still being processed. Actually, it should not be declared to the public before the final decision is reached," Indonesian chef de mission to the SEA Games Putera Astaman said on Tuesday.
"We still need further investigation, such as questioning the athlete involved, before submitting our explanation to the organizing committee," he added.
SEA Games Federation president Imran Ja'afar of Malaysia confirmed that the case was the first uncovered during the event.
"We will take corrective measures such as redistributing the medals and informing the international governing body about the case," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency on Tuesday.
Following Gustar's disqualification, Chom Singhoi from Thailand will receive the gold medal and another Indonesian weightlifter, Nusiyanto, will get the silver, Ja'far added. The bronze goes to Vietnamese Nguyen Manth Thang.
Putera, a KONI official in charge of organizational matters, said he would submit reports on SEA Games achievements to KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar on Wednesday.
"KONI will only be able to issue its official statement regarding the doping case after the meeting because Pak Wismoyo will ask for the opinion of other officials," he said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Body Building Association (PABBSI), including chairman Surya Dharma, were unavailable for comment.
"I don't have the right to discuss possible sanctions to be imposed on Gustar. You should ask the chairman or the executive director," PABBSI's officer for athlete development, Steve Tengko, was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.
"We, however, can still improve Gustar despite his involvement in the case. The important thing is to seek a light sanction for him," he added.
It remains unclear which substance was found in Gustar's urine sample, however, anabolic steroids are the drug most commonly taken by weightlifters to increase their power. Gustar has admitted to taking traditional jamu (herbal medicine) prior to competition.
Weightlifting coach Imron Rosadi was the first to reveal that his protege had failed a drug test. Imron apologized for the incident, which had added more woes to Indonesia's mediocre showing at the Games. (nvn)