Team set up to monitor drug-linked footballers
Team set up to monitor drug-linked footballers
JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI)
chairman Agum Gumelar announced Monday that the organization
would set up a special team to observe three players, who
allegedly used drugs.
"PSSI medical commission will observe the three players in the
upcoming days due to the allegation they are using drugs. The
commission will be helped by experts from the Wijaya Kusuma drugs
abuse rehabilitation, chaired by Dr. Muhammad Sarengat," he said.
The three players -- PSM strikers Kurniawan Dwi Julianto and
Kuncoro and Persebaya's Mursyid Effendi -- will stay in Jakarta
during the observation of undetermined length. They will also be
absent from soccer activities during the observation.
They are suspected of consuming shabu-shabu (crystal
methamphetamine) in the so-called "Hotel Weta" incident.
Kuncoro admitted in May that he took shabu-shabu in the room
he was sharing with Kurniawan at the Weta Hotel in Surabaya prior
to their match against Petrokimia Gresik on April 11.
Kuncoro said he was persuaded by Mursyid to take the drugs,
but Mursyid said it was Kurniawan who encouraged him to use the
shabu-shabu. Kurniawan has refuted Mursyid's statement.
Agum complained that the information remained contradictory
between Kurniawan and his two friends.
"We have established an investigation team chaired by Adang
Ruchiatna to handle the problem. But until now the allegations
remain different between the two parties."
Agum said after meeting Kurniawan prior to the press
conference for about two hours that the striker has agreed to be
responsible for his action should the observation team conclude
that he took shabu-shabu.
"He told me that he was ready to accept the consequence if he
was proven guilty. Even the worst sanction of being banned for
life, Kurniawan said he would accept it," he said.
"If they really used the drugs, we will put them in a
rehabilitation program and it will take a long time. That means
the end of their careers."
Kurniawan, who was accompanied by PSM manager Kadir Halid,
declined to comment. Kadir said PSM would accept the decision
made by PSSI.
"Everything is crystal clear. Kurniawan was called today and
he gave all information needed. We just have to wait for another
week before the chairman makes the decision," he said, adding
that the meeting was also attended by PSSI disciplinary
commission chairman Andi Darussalam Tabusalla.
Agum said the drug use was more a criminal problem but he was
concerned on the links to the doping case.
"Using drugs is a part of doping and we have to follow the
regulation of the international federation FIFA and the Asian
Football Confederation (AFC)." (yan)