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Doping ban: Trouble we’re in for sweeping problems under the rug
As per WADA’s demand, Indonesia needs to cooperate with another national antidoping agency to act as a supervisor for LADI in future works, including in conducting testing and hosting several scheduled international sporting events.
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Players from Indonesia pose with the trophy and their medals after winning the Thomas Cup men’s team final against China in Aarhus, Denmark on Oct. 17, 2021.
(AFP/Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix)
I
f it was not for Indonesia’s recent 14th victory in the Thomas Cup men’s badminton team competition, most of us would not care so much about being compliant with international regulations, in this case antidoping measures.
And now, all eyes are on Indonesia’s antidoping agency LADI (and the Youth and Sports Ministry as its direct supervisor) following the absence of Indonesia’s Red-and-White flag from the Ceres Arena in Aarhus, Denmark, at the historic victory on Oct. 17.
This year’s Thomas Cup glory was a bittersweet moment – not only for the successful badminton players, but also for most Indonesians.
The shuttlers, led by Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, did their job by solidly reclaiming the trophy – the first time since 2002. They deserved the highest spot on the podium. I bet they had been dreaming of celebrating that rare achievement – maybe once in a lifetime – with the team, the shiny trophy, the national anthem blaring from the speakers, and for the cherry on top, a nice picture of it all with the national flag in the backdrop. Loud and proud.
That picture-perfect hope, though, crumbled to dust.
Just a week or so before the victory, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) slapped Indonesia with a ban, barring the country from hoisting its flag in any sporting event as the agency had declared the country, along with Thailand and North Korea, noncompliant for not implementing effective dope-testing programs.
And, Indonesia, a badminton powerhouse with the most Thomas Cup titles, had been waiting for almost two decades to win the trophy back.
