Indonesia Firmly Rejects Plan To Abolish Weightlifting At The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

JAKARTA - Indonesia is one of the countries that firmly rejects the plan to abolish weightlifting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The plan to abolish this sport for the first time has surfaced since the discovery of the use of doping in several sports, namely the pentathlon, weightlifting, and boxing.

Regarding the plan, the Deputy Chairperson of PB PABSI (Commander of the All Indonesian Weightlifting Association), Djoko Pramono, explained the rejection submitted by Indonesia. According to Djoko, this cannot be uniformed.

"Until now, the IWF (World Weightlifting Federation) continues to strive to eliminate the use of doping. All federations of their respective countries also agree on this, but if it is abolished entirely because of findings by one party, it is unfair, it cannot be uniformed", said Djoko in a virtual press conference attended by VOI, Monday, December 13.

Furthermore, Djoko also ensured that none of the athletes, both from Indonesia and other countries, would want to be tarnished for using doping. Athletes and sports players will clearly forbid the use of doping.

"The use of doping is only for athletes who want to cut the compass to get achievements. They are not knights. However, their behavior should not be used as a whole picture", he said.

PB PABSI's rejection of the plan also received support from the government. The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Zainudin Amali, confirmed that he would closely monitor this rejection because they also did not want weightlifting to be removed from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The government and NOC will clearly assist PB PABSI to reject it. But we will do everything in limited space because we don't want to be an intervention", said the Menpora.