Sports officials tightlipped over SEAG doping

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)