Good News, WADA Lifts Indonesian Sanctions Next Month

WADA Sanction Acceleration Task Force Team Leader Raja Sapta Oktohari (Doc. Kemenpora)

JAKARTA – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gave a positive signal regarding the sanctions imposed on Indonesia. They plan to lift the sanctions in February.

WADA itself has written to the Head of the WADA Sanctions Acceleration Task Force Team, Raja Sapta Oktohari, last Friday, January 14. The contents of the letter appreciated Indonesia regarding the acceleration of the sanctions imposed.

"They said that by early February this sanction would be lifted," said Raja Sapta Oktohari in a press statement given virtually on Monday, January 17.

Information regarding the lifting of this sanction was initially conveyed by WADA Director General Oliver Niggli to Raja Sapta Oktohari via message on WhatsApp on Thursday, January 13.

WADA then sent a formal letter the day after. The letter was signed by Head Compliance Manager Oliver Simonelli.

"But what WADA said does not mean that we are more relaxed because from the very beginning, since the acceleration team was appointed by the Minister of Youth and Sports, their task was not to repair damaged cars but racing cars," said Oktohari.

Indonesia was sanctioned by WADA on October 7, 2021. The letter stated that there were several items that Indonesia was not allowed to do within a year's duration.

The sanctions prevented Indonesia from flying the flag in a number of international events. These include the Thomas-Uber Cup, the World Weightlifting Championship and the AFF Cup.

Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali said that the sanctions received by Indonesia should be a lesson. He hopes that in the future the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) can work well according to the WADA reference.

“At the same time, this incident is a lesson for us to make the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) better and in accordance with the references in WADA. Because whatever we do that is different from the reference that has been outlined by WADA is still considered not good," said the Minister of Youth and Sports.

The letter sent by WADA to the Chair of the WADA Sanctions Acceleration Task Force will be used by Indonesia as a basis for hosting international events.