WADA Sanctions Awaken Indonesia About Engagement With The International Sports Community, Menpora: We Must Obey

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali stressed the importance of anti-doping bodies as institutions that play an important role in creating clean and sporting Indonesian sports and avoiding the use of doping.

This was conveyed by Zainudin in response to the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, which finally lifted the sanctions imposed on Indonesia.

After the WADA sanction incident, Zainudin realized that the presence of the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI), which has now changed its name to the Indonesia Anti-Doping Organization (IADO), is very vital because it is the only institution in charge of carrying out anti-doping tests in order to comply World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) international codes and standards.

“At first we didn't really care about anti-doping, but this incident (WADA sanctions) made it clear that we are tied to the international sports community. This means that all sports stakeholders must comply with this commitment," said Zainudin as quoted from Antara, Saturday, February 5.

"We must be committed, we will be clean, carry out sports principles that uphold sportsmanship, do not justify any means to achieve the goal of victory or achievement," he added.

He asked IADO to become an independent, trusted, and professional anti-doping agency in carrying out its duties and functions so as not to fall into the same punishment again.

Even though it is independent and there is no interference from outside parties, Zainudin emphasized that the government is still committed to providing budgetary support to IADO.

“Now that IADO has separated from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, its office is no longer here, now it has its own office. However, the government still supports the budget, but what policies will be carried out there should be no government intervention," he said.

The same thing was conveyed by the Head of IADO Musthofa Fauzi who said that the sanctions imposed by WADA had opened the eyes of many parties about the importance of anti-doping institutions. The sentence even became a valuable lesson for IADO to carry out organizational improvements in accordance with WADA standards.

"This opens our eyes about the existence of anti-doping, which maybe if there was no incident (WADA sanctions) maybe the IADO transformation would not necessarily be like this, both from the legal aspect, legal status, and recognition in the world of sports in the country," said Musthofa .

WADA has officially lifted Indonesia's sanctions because it has fulfilled its obligations. Despite being released, IADO is still under WADA supervision for the next three months.