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)