However, WADA has assisted in explaining the circumstances.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Sanctions Revocation Acceleration Task Force has said it expects the national flag to fly again at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi in May 2022.

The head of the task force, Raja Sapta Oktohari, said that the international agency had promised to re-evaluate the sanctions imposed on Indonesia, so they may be lifted sooner.

“If the SEA Games are held in May 2022, Inshaa Allah (if God wills), the Indonesian flag can be flown there," he said at an online press conference, accessed from here on Monday.

Currently, time has become the main challenge to resolving the sanctions as the Christmas and New Year holidays will interrupt the task force’s work, he added.

Nevertheless, the task force head said, the team has met the requirements for lifting the sanctions.

"Since we have reported everything to WADA, the agency lauded our quick work," he remarked.

Furthermore, he said that WADA is also willing to help Indonesia to explain the sanctions to various international sporting federations.

For instance, the World Karate Federation had not seen that the sanctions imposed on Indonesia were different from the ones imposed on other countries, thus the federation had banned the Indonesian team from using all national attributes, he informed.

"However, WADA has assisted in explaining the circumstances," Oktohari, who is also the general chairperson of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (KOI), stated.

WADA’s one-year sanctions on Indonesia took effect on October 7, 2021.

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The sanctions prevent Indonesia from having representatives in international sporting organizations, hosting international tournaments, singing the Indonesia Raya anthem, and flying the national flag.

The conditions are different from other countries sanctioned by WADA, Oktohari said.

For instance, Indonesian athletes are still allowed to wear their national attributes during international tournaments, he pointed out.

"We emphasize that the sanctions we received are different, thus we cannot be treated in a similar way as Russia, North Korea, or Thailand because the sanctions imposed on Indonesia only concern the four points," the task force head stressed.

The sanctions cover three aspects of communication, administration, and technical aspects, he informed.

“The communication has been managed well. The administration is in progress, while all parameters have been completed by our colleagues at the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI). In addition, the technical aspects regarding the testing have been completed, Alhamdulillah (all praises be to God)," Oktohari explained.

Furthermore, regarding a number of international sporting events hosted by Indonesia, he said that the tournaments which had been scheduled before the sanctions were imposed could be implemented as planned.

At the same press conference, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali lauded the quick work of the task force.

"Our progress is excellent and quite fast compared to other countries or institutions which were also sanctioned. I hope the sanctions can be resolved soon," he added.
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Translator: Arindra Meodia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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