Jakarta, 13 August 2025
On August 13th, 2025, it’s already been 3.5 years since the WADA suspension was lifted on February 2nd, 2022, against the Indonesian Anti-Doping Organization (IADO, formerly LADI), which had a significant impact on the state of Indonesian sport. This was especially true when the Thomas Cup returned to Indonesia on October 18th, 2021, after a 19-year absence for the Indonesian Badminton Team. Unfortunately, the Indonesian flag was prohibited to be raised.
This was not solely due to the doping violations of the numerous athletes being sanctioned (at that time, only two athletes were found to be doping-infected and consequently sanctioned, not dozens or hundreds of athletes like in Russia during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics). The sanction was more due to the poor governance of the anti-doping organization in Indonesia, carried out by LADI, which was marked by the absence of good management of anti-doping education, inconsistencies in doping testing and everything related to compliance with the applicable World Anti-Doping Code.
The sanction was indeed bitter and troublesome, Indonesia was hit twice (previously a similar sanction occurred from November 2016 to February 2017 and almost disrupted preparations for the 2018 Asian Games), because the 2021 sanction then became a national political uproar. To ensure that the Indonesian anti-doping organization, currently the IADO, remains compliant and in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, IADO has been continuing to strive to maximize its existing performance through anti-doping education for athletes and ASPs, doping monitoring including both ICT and OOCT testing, intelligence and investigation activities, TUE, RM and organizational governance. We do not want so many very prestigious sporting tournaments such as when the Indonesian National Football Team competes against teams from other countries, when the World Gymnastics Championship is coming soon in Indonesia and also the World Junior Volleyball Championship in Indonesia, to take place without the flying of the Indonesian flag. This does not include the Asian Judo Championship, the World Sambo Championship, and a number of other prestigious events that will take place in Indonesia.
These days, we are all busy celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, a moment marked by the red and white colors everywhere. Let us use this anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence as a reminder that our adherence to anti-doping governance is not a trivial matter, simply taking samples. For example, a small matter could lead to the red and white flag being banned from raising at an international sporting event. This is a very serious issue if not handled professionally, and it almost happened in the beginning of 2024, but not much is known about it by the public. That is why IADO, as the vanguard, along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, plays a strategic role alongside all stakeholders in Indonesian national sports to further advance anti-doping management in all aspects to support the improvement of doping-free sporting achievements. Long live the Republic of Indonesia. Let’s not let the trauma of being sanctioned twice in the past repeat itself in our beloved country.
Jakarta, 13 August, 2025.
IADO Chairman,
Gatot S. Dewa Broto