Jakarta, 22 May, 2023
Few days ago, the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia ended on May 17th, 2023. All of the people of Indonesia celebrated their athletes winning the medals. The biggest multi sports games in the region of South East Asia, was followed by 11 countries of that region. Historically, the first SEA Games (it was called SEAP Games / South East Asia Peninsula Games instead of SEA Games) were held in Bangkok on December 12th to 17th, 1959, followed by 527 athletes and officials from 6 countries: Burma (now Myanmar), Laos, Malaya, Singapore, South Vietnam and Thailand. However, after 1975, in particular on 1977 SEA Games was also followed by 3 new additional countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Philippines. The 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam was also followed by another country: Timor Leste.
There was something new for the preparation of the 32nd SEA Games, for it was the first time for all of the countries joining the event to be strongly recommended by OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) to mandatory remind their own certain athletes to take so-called anti-doping education through ADEL (Anti-Doping eLearning Platform). Otherwise, they would not be allowed to join events such as the SEA Games. That activity was the first one conducted prior to the event such as SEA Games compared to previous ones, because few months ago there was a circular from OCA on November 6th, 2022 submitted to all Presidents of NOC in Asia region, obliging all of certain athletes taking part on international events in Asian Region especially Asian Games to be mandatory to get anti-doping education organized by each own NADO (National Anti-Doping Organization). Such instruction was then transformed by SEARADO (South East Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization) to strongly encourage to all NADOs in that region to oblige their athletes, in particular those included on their TP (Testing Pool) and TRP (Testing Registered Pool) to take part on anti-doping education.
Furthermore, in that activity which was as a form of continuation of the collaboration between IADO and NOC of Indonesia through an MoU signed by both sides on November 18th, 2022 and March 6th, 2023. As part of the collaboration, President of NOC of Indonesia Mr. Raja Sapta Oktohari accompanied by Secretary General of IADO dr. Eka Wulan Sari and Director of Education of IADO Ms. Natashya Marcellina Ardiany officially opened the activity of anti-doping education at NOC’s office on March 13th, 2023, in which it was organized till the following day. Okto said that the athlete’s job is indeed to train, but it is expected that with that educational activity, they will train and be aware of the anti-doping rule violations after having a comprehensive anti-doping education. Therefore, when they would become champions, their training results would not be in vain because they would be the real champions as well as clean sport and play true.
Even though those certain athletes (from Indonesia for instance) already attended ADEL by IADO, it was not guaranteed that they were clean from using prohibited substances or behaving to violate any anti-doping regulation, because ADEL is only a kind of anti-doping education or anti-doping awareness to remind them how dangerous to use any prohibited substances which are stipulated by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). In fact, during the event, all of DCOs (Doping Control Officer) coming from all of countries participating (including 2 DCOs from Indonesia) on the SEA Games except Timor Leste, led by JADA (Japan Anti-Doping Agency) were assigned to collect samples. All of the activities were coordinated very well by CADA (Cambodia Anti-Doping Agency). Consequently, if the WADA-accredited laboratory in Bangkok would have found any sample delivered by CADA supervised by JADA, it would be known who would have been regarded (even thought it would be limited on the basis of bottle code only) to use prohibited substances. The next steps will be organized by its own NADO to conduct further proceeding such as hearing, appeal and others. For an information, based on the previous SEA Games 2022 in Vietnam, there were 10 athletes to be declared to use doping, in which half of them came from Vietnam. Such announcement was revealed by CAMSOC (Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee) on the day prior to the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games.
Doping cases also occurred on the previous events of SEA Games. Due to the important obedience of anti-doping regulation stipulated by World Anti-Doping Code and few Regulations of International Standards, IADO wishes that there would be no athlete from Indonesia using prohibited substances or behaving to violate any anti-doping regulation on the SEA Games in Cambodia and other national and international sports events, because WADA has been very intensive to strongly encourage all national and international sports stake holders to remind their athletes not to use prohibited substances and nor to behave to violate any anti-doping regulation. That is the reason for IADO to work harder to minimize any potency or opportunity of athlete to use prohibited substances. IADO has been more serious and intensive to educate more athletes and athlete support personnel, has provided more information including information of prohibited substances via website of IADO.ID which used to be up dated very often and the most important actions are to conduct ICT (In Competition Testing) such as on any national or international events and OOCT (Out of Competition Testing) such as assigning its DCO to collect any samples from certain athletes on the spot event thought they might be not on the event instead at home, training center or at their daily activities.
Jakarta, 22 May, 2023.
Chairman of IADO,
Gatot S. Dewa Broto