Indonesia Tries to Get Out of Sanctions from Anti-Doping Agency

AP PHOTO/JEFF CHIU, FILE

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS — For the second time, Indonesia is threatened with sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its failure to fulfill the required number of annual doping tests. Sanctions threaten Indonesia\'s position as the host of a number of international tournaments. The government and the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency have sent a clarification to WADA and are taking steps to get out of the sanctions trap.

In a statement published on Friday (8/10/2021), WADA confirmed that five anti-doping organizations had been declared as not complying with the world\'s anti-doping code of ethics.

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The five anti-doping organizations were the National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) from Indonesia, North Korea and Thailand, as well as the International Deaf Basketball Federation and the International Gira Federation.

In the case of Indonesia, non-compliance was caused by discrepancies in implementing effective testing.

WADA sent a statement of non-compliance on 5 September 2021. Since there has been no objection, the five anti-doping organizations are deemed to have accepted the decision.

Based on WADA\'s decision, none of the five anti-doping organizations expressed objection to the statement of non-compliance, the consequences proposed for non-compliance or the conditions of recovery proposed within the 21-day period. WADA sent a statement of non-compliance on 5 September 2021. Since there has been no objection, the five anti-doping organizations are deemed to have accepted the decision.

AFP/BAY ISMOYO

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As the impact of WADA\'s decision, Indonesia is not eligible to host regional, continental or world championships for one year and this can be extended. The agenda for international championships in Indonesia within this one-year period include the Indonesia Masters international badminton tournament (16-21 November), the Indonesia Open (23-28 November), the BWF World Tour Finals (1-5 December), the Asian Basketball Championship in June 2022, the U-17 Women\'s Soccer Asian Cup in May 2022 and the World Super Bike in 2022.

Indonesian athletes are also threatened with sanctions meaning they may not be allowed to fly the flag and carry the name of the country in events.

The deputy chairperson of the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI), Dr. Rheza Maulana, said that the issues of non-compliance from WADA were because of miscommunication. The non-compliance is related to the number of doping tests carried out by LADI throughout the 2021 period. According to Rheza, LADI was unable to meet the annual test target due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The second case of non-compliance stemmed from the doping tests for the Papua National Sports Week (PON) 2021. Rheza said WADA asked LADI to send the results of the PON doping tests before the deadline. "We have sent this and it was safe," said Rheza.

At present, the number of tests achieved in the first and second quarters of 2021 has reached just 72 samples.

Rheza declined to disclose the number of annual doping tests planned and their realization, including the number of doping tests planned to be sent from the PON due to privacy reasons. However, from the clarification letter sent by the Youth and Sports Ministry to WADA, it was disclosed that LADI planned to send around 700 doping test samples from the PON to the WADA Compliance Department. It also disclosed that LADI had a target of 300 doping test samples in 2021. At present, the number of tests achieved in the first and second quarters of 2021 has reached just 72 samples.

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The third point of non-compliance is related to the number of doping tests for 2022. This provision, said Rheza, has been fulfilled by LADI. "If the points of clarification and our efforts have been fulfilled, according to the letter from the WADA, the LADI status will be returned to its original and the predicate of non-compliance will be revoked," said Rheza.

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali explained that the government and LADI had sent a letter of clarification to WADA regarding the decision given to Indonesia.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali.

According to Zainudin, the discrepancy between test planning and realization was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that had hit Indonesia since March 2020. The pandemic brought all sports activities to a halt. This caused the number of Indonesian doping test samples to no longer be in line with the planning.

Now with the Papua PON, Zainudin said the number of doping tests carried out by LADI would be able to reach the number as planned. "After sending a letter of clarification, I am optimistic that there is no need to impose the sanctions," said Zainudin through an online press conference.

Despite being threatened by WADA sanctions, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) confirmed that the three international badminton tournaments this year would run as scheduled. Confirmation was obtained after coordinating with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)