Meet WADA In Greece, KOI Chair: All Sanctions Can Be Immediately Suspended As Long As LADI Is Able To Resolve Pending Matters

King Sapta Oktohari (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari opened communication with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to help accelerate the release of sanctions that are now ensnaring the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI).

To open the way of communication, Oktohari met directly with WADA President Witold Banka and Secretary-General Olivier Niggli at the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in Crete, Greece, Sunday, October 24 local time.

Okto, Raja Sapta's nickname, said that WADA was open to helping Indonesia resolve pending matters (pending matters) to expedite the suspension of sanctions.

According to him, the problem is difficult to resolve because of the lack of communication between LADI and WADA.

“So far, there have been difficulties communicating with WADA because it is still via email. Now we have direct lines to all WADA key persons and from the meeting, they were very open and committed to helping with this problem", Okto said, as reported by Antara, Monday.

Furthermore, KOI through the WADA Sanctions Relief Task Force will continue to encourage LADI to immediately resolve 24 pending matters as a condition for the exemption of WADA sanctions.

Okto ensured that if the conditions were met by LADI, the sanctions could be suspended so that Indonesia could regain its rights in sporting events and host international championships.

"I told WADA, we don't have one year because the Indonesian Olympic Committee plans to bring many international sporting events to the country".

“But, they said all sanctions could be suspended immediately as long as LADI was able to resolve the pending matters. This is being rushed to be completed as soon as possible. The ball is in our hands now and LADI must move quickly", said Okto.

The 25th ANOC General Assembly in Crete, Greece, runs until tonight. Several important agendas were discussed at the meeting, including an invitation by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach to put solidarity as a top priority, which was shown by promoting the neutrality of the Olympic Movement as a form of mutual respect.