"The revocation of the sanction was done after improvement efforts carried out by the government, in cooperation with Indonesia Anti-Doping Institute (LADI), in the past two months since the sanction was given in Nov 2016," deputy for performance improvement of the ministry of sports, Gatot S Dewa Broto, said in a written statement received here on Saturday.
The revocation of the sanction was announced in a letter from WADA to Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi on Feb 17, signed by WADAs Director General Olivier Niggli and a copy sent to LADIs Chief Zaini Saragih.
Gatot said the revocation of the sanction would ease doping supervision in Indonesia. In connection with this, the sports ministry would push LADI to work harder especially during the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang, as well as to keep communicating with WADA.
"The Asian Games 2018 preparations are priority. The government will also continue to push LADI to adhere to WADA regulations. Sanction from WADA must be taken as a lesson," Gatot stated.
Doping has remained a spooky issue in Indonesia. In the National Games 2016, recently held in West Java, 14 athletes were proven positive to using dope. The disciplinary board that has taken over LADIs position in the case is still continuing with its investigation.
With regard to the case, LADIs tasks in the future would be stronger, as it has to put in more efforts to educate and familiarize the athletes as well as coaches. Moreover, the kind of doping used that WADA issues every year has always increased.
Apart from increasing the information campaign about anti-doping, Indonesia has also been urged to immediately set up a doping laboratory based on WADA standards, so that tests could be done in the country and not in other countries such as Thailand or India.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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