KOI Optimistic WADA Sanctions Can Be Revoked In March 2022 Although There Are Still Other Homeworks That Must Be Completed For Compliance Status

King Sapta Oktohari (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari is optimistic that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions against the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) can be lifted as soon as March 2022.

This was conveyed by Oktohari after meeting the General Director of ASEAN Anti-Doping Regional (SEARADO) Gobinathan Nair in Singapore, Wednesday. On that occasion, he conveyed Indonesia's progress in resolving pending matters, including the results of his meeting with WADA Secretary General Olivier Niggli and Regional Director of European Anti-Doping and International Federation Relations Sébastien Gillot in Lausanne, Switzerland, early December.

Okto, as Raja Sapta is known, said Gobi's response was very positive to the progress that LADI had completed. However, there is still other homework to be done for the sake of WADA's compliance status.

“Of course there is still homework to be done by LADI. However, with the current progress, we are very optimistic that the initial quarterly WADA sanctions for LADI can be suspended. We are trying to fight for it, especially since the 2022 sports agenda is very busy," Okto said as quoted by Antara, Friday.

Indonesia will face a busy 2022 sports calendar, namely the SEA Games (12-23 May), Islamic Solidarity Games (9-18 August), Asian Games (10-25 September), and Asian Youth Games (20-28 December).

In addition, there are also single event championships, such as the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup (12-24 July), IFSC Climbing World Cup (24-26 September), IESF 14th Esports World Championships 2022 (20-27 November) and a series of badminton tournaments.

The LADI sanctions must also be immediately suspended if Indonesia wants to host the ASEAN Para Games to replace Vietnam, which will only hold the SEA Games in May next year.

“The President of NPC Indonesia (Senny Marbun) has also called me. He asked directly that the LADI sanctions be suspended immediately, so that Indonesia could hold the ASEAN Para Games...Vietnam has also withdrawn, so it's a pity for our athletes with disabilities if there are no two consecutive events," concluded Okto.