WADA Prioritizes Lifting Of LADI Sanctions

JAKARTA - The head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of the Lifting of Sanctions, Raja Sapta Oktohari, reported the results of a meeting with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Okto said the meeting yielded good results because WADA said it would prioritize lifting the sanctions from the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI).

In this diplomatic effort, Okto had conveyed to WADA that Indonesia could not wait one year to wait for the sanctions to be lifted. The reason is, next year there are many sports agendas that are planned to be held in the country.

WADA responded positively to this statement because it saw the serious efforts and fast steps taken by LADI in an effort to achieve compliance status. According to Okto, WADA Secretary General, Olivier Niggli ensured that Indonesia did not have to wait a year to regain its rights in international sporting events.

"We had said that (Indonesia) did not have one year to complete the sanctions," Okto said in an online meeting that took place, Friday, December 10.

"Then Olivier understood it and promised to make this (the lifting of LADI sanctions) their priority so that they don't have to wait a year," continued Okto.

WADA previously sanctioned LADI on October 7, 2021 and was valid for one year. The sanctions were aimed at Indonesia because it was considered non-compliant.

The most obvious aftermath of the WADA sanction was seen during the 2020 Thomas Cup, where Indonesia, which won a medal, could not fly the red and white flag as a sanction.

So far, LADI's efforts to accelerate the lifting of WADA sanctions have continued to be optimal. LADI Deputy Chair Rheza Maulana also explained that currently LADI has fulfilled 90 percent of the pending matters requested by WADA.