2002 Asian Games medal table
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Asian Games
(officially known as the 14th Asian Games) was a multi-sport event
held in Busan
, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Busan was the second South Korean city to host the Games, after Seoul in 1986
. A total of 6,572 athletes—4,605 men and 1,967 women—from 44 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 38 sports
divided into 419 events. The number of competing athletes was higher than the 1998 Asian Games
, in which 6,544 athletes from 41 NOCs participated. It was the first time in the history of the Asian Games
that all 44 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia
(OCA) participated in the Games. Afghanistan
returned after the fall of the Taliban government in the midst of ongoing war
; East Timor, newest member of the OCA made its debut; and North Korea
competed for the first time in an international sporting event hosted by South Korea. Both nations marched together at the opening ceremony with a Korean Unification Flag depicting the Korean Peninsula
as United Korea
.
Athletes from 39 nations won at least one medal, and athletes from 27 of these nations secured at least one gold. Eight NOCs—Kazakhstan
, Uzbekistan
, India
, Singapore
, Vietnam
, Qatar
, Philippines
and Kyrgyzstan
—improved their position in the general medal table compared to the 1998 Asian Games. China
topped the medal table for the sixth consecutive time in the Asian Games, with 150 gold medals. Athletes from China won the most silver medals (84) and the most medals overall (308). Competitors from the South Korea
led the bronze medal count with 84. South Korea also won 96 gold medals, 80 silver medals and a total of 260 medals, finishing second on the medal table. Japanese
athletes claimed 189 medals in total (including 44 gold), earning third spot on the table.
convention in its published medal tables
. By default, the table is ordered by the number of gold medals the athletes from a nation have won (in this context, a nation is an entity represented by a NOC). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next, followed by the number of bronze medals. If nations are still tied, equal ranking is given; they are listed alphabetically by IOC country code.
A total of 1,350 medals (427 gold, 421 silver and 502 bronze) were awarded. The total number of bronze medals is greater than the total number of gold or silver medals because two bronze medals were awarded per event in 10 sports: badminton
, boxing
, judo
, karate
, sepaktakraw
, squash
, table tennis
, taekwondo
, tennis
, and wushu
(sanshou event only).
This discrepancy is also caused by ties. In men's artistic gymnastics, a three-way tie for the gold medal in the horizontal bar
meant that no silver and bronze medals were awarded; in the pommel horse
, rings
and parallel bars ties for first positions resulted in two golds per event, and thus no silvers were awarded; and a tie for silver in the individual all-around resulted in no bronze being awarded. In women's artistic gymnastics, ties for the gold medal in the uneven bars and floor
meant that no silvers were awarded for those events. In athletics
, a three-way tie in the men's high jump, and ties in the men's 3,000 m steeplechase
and the women's high jump for second place meant that no bronzes were awarded for those events. In men's bowling, a tie for second place in the singles and trios resulted in two silver medals per event, and thus no bronzes were awarded; a tie for the bronze-medal position in the doubles and the team of five meant that two bronzes were awarded for each event. In softball
, due to rainy weather at the final competition the ranking was decided by the results of the preliminary round and semifinals. Japan was awarded the gold medal based on its unbeaten record in the preliminary games; China and Chinese Taipei shared the silver. Those two were to have played to decide decide who would meet Japan in the gold-medal game. In swimming
, a tie for first position in the men's 50 m freestyle
resulted in two gold medals and no silver was awarded; a tie for second position in the women's 100 m freestyle meant that no bronze medal was awarded.
Host nation
On October 7, 2002, the Olympic Council of Asia announced that the bodybuilding
bronze medalist in the +90 kg weight category Youssef El-Zein of Lebanon was relieved of his medal for not submitting to a drugs test. After El-Zein was disqualified, the bronze medal in the +90 kg category went to Choi Jae-Duck of South Korea (who had finished fourth).
Six days later, Japanese news agency Kyodo News
reported that Indian middle distance runner Sunita Rani
had tested positive for a banned substance, which was later confirmed by Lee Choon-Sup, Deputy Secretary General of the Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee; an unofficial report stated that the substance was the anabolic steroid
nandrolone
. Sunita had won two medals in athletics
: a gold in the 1,500 m (setting an Asian Games record) and a bronze in the 5,000 m, (in which Sunita jointly bettered the Games record set by Indonesian
Suprianti Sutono in Bangkok during the 1998 Asian Games
with six other athletes). The Indian Chef de Mission at the Games backed Sunita—who denied using any banned drug—and asked for a "B" sample test from Bangkok, but tests were run only at the Asian Games’ Doping Control Center (AGDCC) in Seoul (the laboratory accredited by the IOC). On October 16, the AGDCC confirmed the steroid nandrolone in Sunita's urine sample; as a consequence, the OCA stripped her of both medals and dismissed her Asian Games record for the 1,500 m.
The Indian Olympic Association
(IOA) requested the intervention of the International Association of Athletics Federations
and the IOC; the samples were jointly reexamined by the World Anti-Doping Agency
and the IOC Sub-Commission on Doping and Biochemistry of Sport. In January 2003, the OCA announced that the IOC Medical Director had cleared Sunita of the doping charge and that appropriate action would be taken against the AGDCC. Both of Sunita's medals were reinstated on February 4, 2003, in a ceremony attended by the Secretary General of OCA Randhir Singh and the president of the IOA Suresh Kalmadi
.
2002 Asian Games
The 2002 Asian Games, also known as XIV Asiad is a multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Busan is the second city, after Seoul in 1986 to host the Games. A total of 419 events in 38 sports were contested by 7,711 athletes from 44 countries...
(officially known as the 14th Asian Games) was a multi-sport event
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
held in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Busan was the second South Korean city to host the Games, after Seoul in 1986
1986 Asian Games
The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The city was supposed to host the 1970 games, but it received security threats from neighboring North Korea, forcing it to give up hosting the games to previous 1966 host Bangkok, Thailand...
. A total of 6,572 athletes—4,605 men and 1,967 women—from 44 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 38 sports
Asian Games sports
This is a list of sports played in the Asian Games and other major affiliated games organised by the Olympic Council of Asia. On 29 June 2009, the OCA announced major changes to the event lists in the five major events, in particular aiming to restrict each sport to be played in not more than one...
divided into 419 events. The number of competing athletes was higher than the 1998 Asian Games
1998 Asian Games
The 13th Asian Games were held from December 6 to December 20, 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first time that Thailand bid for the event after it shouldered the two postponed hosting rights in 1970 and 1978.-Emblem:...
, in which 6,544 athletes from 41 NOCs participated. It was the first time in the history of the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
that all 44 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia
Olympic Council of Asia
The Olympic Council of Asia is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The current president is Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The oldest NOC is from Japan and Philippines, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1911; whereas East Timor is...
(OCA) participated in the Games. Afghanistan
Afghanistan at the 2002 Asian Games
Afghanistan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Afghanistan won only one bronze medal, and finished at the 36th spot in the medal table.-References:...
returned after the fall of the Taliban government in the midst of ongoing war
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
; East Timor, newest member of the OCA made its debut; and North Korea
North Korea at the 2002 Asian Games
North Korea participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from North Korea won overall 33 medals , and clinched ninth spot in the medal table.-References:...
competed for the first time in an international sporting event hosted by South Korea. Both nations marched together at the opening ceremony with a Korean Unification Flag depicting the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
as United Korea
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
.
Athletes from 39 nations won at least one medal, and athletes from 27 of these nations secured at least one gold. Eight NOCs—Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan at the 2002 Asian Games
Kazakhstan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Kazakhstan won overall 76 medals , and clinched fourth spot in the medal table.-References:...
, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan at the 2002 Asian Games
Uzbekistan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Uzbekistan won overall 51 medals , and clinched fifth spot in the medal table.-References:...
, India
India at the 2002 Asian Games
India competed at the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea. India ranked 8th with 10 gold medals.-Gold :* Kabaddi :: Men Team* Golf :: Shiv Kapur* Shot put :: Bahadur Singh Sagoo* Discus throw :: Neelam Jaswant Singh...
, Singapore
Singapore at the 2002 Asian Games
Singapore participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Singapore won overall 17 medals , and clinched 13th spot in the medal table.-References:...
, Vietnam
Vietnam at the 2002 Asian Games
Vietnam participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Vietnam won overall 18 medals , and clinched 15th spot in the medal table....
, Qatar
Qatar at the 2002 Asian Games
Qatar participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Qatar won overall 17 medals , and clinched 17th spot in the medal table....
, Philippines
Philippines at the 2002 Asian Games
The Philippines participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Ranked 18th with 3 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 16 bronze medals with a total of 26 over-all medals....
and Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan at the 2002 Asian Games
Kyrgyzstan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, from September 29 to October 14, 2002. Athletes from Kyrgyzstan won overall twelve medals , and clinched 23rd spot in the medal table.-References:...
—improved their position in the general medal table compared to the 1998 Asian Games. China
China at the 2002 Asian Games
China competed in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea from September 29, 2002 to October 14, 2002.-See also:* China at the Asian Games* China at the Olympics* Sports in China...
topped the medal table for the sixth consecutive time in the Asian Games, with 150 gold medals. Athletes from China won the most silver medals (84) and the most medals overall (308). Competitors from the South Korea
South Korea at the 2002 Asian Games
South Korea participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea from September 29 to October 14, 2002.-Medal table:-References:...
led the bronze medal count with 84. South Korea also won 96 gold medals, 80 silver medals and a total of 260 medals, finishing second on the medal table. Japanese
Japan at the 2002 Asian Games
Japan participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea from September 29, 2002 to October 14, 2002.This country was ranked 3rd with 44 gold medals, 74 silver medals and 72 bronze medals with a total of 190 medals...
athletes claimed 189 medals in total (including 44 gold), earning third spot on the table.
Medal table
The ranking in this table is consistent with International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
convention in its published medal tables
Olympic medal table
The Olympic medal table is a method of sorting the medal placements of countries in the modern day Olympics and Paralympics. Officially, the International Olympic Committee does not recognize a ranking of participating countries at the Olympic Games...
. By default, the table is ordered by the number of gold medals the athletes from a nation have won (in this context, a nation is an entity represented by a NOC). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next, followed by the number of bronze medals. If nations are still tied, equal ranking is given; they are listed alphabetically by IOC country code.
A total of 1,350 medals (427 gold, 421 silver and 502 bronze) were awarded. The total number of bronze medals is greater than the total number of gold or silver medals because two bronze medals were awarded per event in 10 sports: badminton
Badminton at the 2002 Asian Games
Badminton was contested at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Singles, doubles, and team events were contested for both men and women. Mixed Doubles were also contested...
, boxing
Boxing at the 2002 Asian Games
Boxing was one of the many sports which was held at the 2002 Asian Games in Masan Gymnasium, Masan, South Korea between 2 and 13 October 2002.-Medal table:-Medalists:-Light flyweight:-Flyweight:-Bantamweight:-Featherweight:-Lightweight:...
, judo
Judo at the 2002 Asian Games
The Judo competition at the 2002 Asian Games was contested in sixteen weight classes, eight each for men and women at Gudeok Gymnasium.-Medal table:-Men:-Women:-−60 kg:October 3-−66 kg:October 2-−73 kg:October 2-−81 kg:...
, karate
Karate at the 2002 Asian Games
Karate was competed by men and women at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Kata was contested along with Kumite. There were 11 gold medals contested for this sport...
, sepaktakraw
Sepaktakraw at the 2002 Asian Games
Sepaktakraw was contested at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea by both men and women, with all games taking place at Dongseo University Minseok Sports Center.-Medal table:-Medalists:-Preliminary round:September 30-Semi final:...
, squash
Squash at the 2002 Asian Games
Squash was contested from September 30 to October 4 at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Competition consists of men's and women's singles competition with all matches to be played at the Yangsan College Gymnasium.-Medal table:-Medalists:...
, table tennis
Table tennis at the 2002 Asian Games
Table tennis was contested from October 1 to October 9 at the 2002 Asian Games in Ulsan Dongcheon Gymnasium, South Korea.-Medal table:-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Men's doubles:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:...
, taekwondo
Taekwondo at the 2002 Asian Games
Taekwondo took place from October 10 to October 13 at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Men's and women's competitions held in eight weight categories for each...
, tennis
Tennis at the 2002 Asian Games
Tennis were contested at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea from November 2 to November 12, 2002. Tennis had team, doubles, and singles events for men and women, as well as a mixed doubles competition...
, and wushu
Wushu at the 2002 Asian Games
Wushu was contested by both men and women at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea from October 10 to October 13, 2002. It was competed in the disciplines of Taijiquan, Taijijian, Changquan, Daoshu, Jianshu, Gunshu, Qiangshu, Nanquan, Nangun, Nandao, and Sanshou...
(sanshou event only).
This discrepancy is also caused by ties. In men's artistic gymnastics, a three-way tie for the gold medal in the horizontal bar
Horizontal bar
The high bar, also known as the horizontal bar, is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics. It traditionally consists of a cylindrical metal bar that is rigidly held above and parallel to the floor by a system of cables and stiff vertical supports. Gymnasts typically wear leather...
meant that no silver and bronze medals were awarded; in the pommel horse
Pommel horse
The pommel horse is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. Traditionally, it is used by only male gymnasts. Originally made of a metal frame with a wooden body and a leather cover, modern pommel horses have a metal body covered with foam rubber and leather, with plastic handles .- History :The pommel...
, rings
Rings (gymnastics)
The rings, also known as still rings , is an artistic gymnastics apparatus and the event that uses it. It is traditionally used only by male gymnasts, due to its extreme upper-body strength requirements...
and parallel bars ties for first positions resulted in two golds per event, and thus no silvers were awarded; and a tie for silver in the individual all-around resulted in no bronze being awarded. In women's artistic gymnastics, ties for the gold medal in the uneven bars and floor
Floor (gymnastics)
In gymnastics, the floor refers to a specially prepared exercise surface, which is considered an apparatus. It is used by both male and female gymnasts. The event in gymnastics performed on floor is called floor exercise. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is FX.A spring...
meant that no silvers were awarded for those events. In athletics
Athletics at the 2002 Asian Games
-Medal summary:-Men's events:-Women's events:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
, a three-way tie in the men's high jump, and ties in the men's 3,000 m steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
and the women's high jump for second place meant that no bronzes were awarded for those events. In men's bowling, a tie for second place in the singles and trios resulted in two silver medals per event, and thus no bronzes were awarded; a tie for the bronze-medal position in the doubles and the team of five meant that two bronzes were awarded for each event. In softball
Softball at the 2002 Asian Games
Softball was contested by six teams at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea from September 30 to October 7. The competition took place at Gudeok Baseball Stadium.-Medal table:-Medalists:-Preliminary:...
, due to rainy weather at the final competition the ranking was decided by the results of the preliminary round and semifinals. Japan was awarded the gold medal based on its unbeaten record in the preliminary games; China and Chinese Taipei shared the silver. Those two were to have played to decide decide who would meet Japan in the gold-medal game. In swimming
Swimming at the 2002 Asian Games
Swimming was contested from September 30 to October 13 at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.- Medal table :- Men :WR: World RecordAR: Asian RecordGR: Asian Games Record- Women :- References :* *...
, a tie for first position in the men's 50 m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
resulted in two gold medals and no silver was awarded; a tie for second position in the women's 100 m freestyle meant that no bronze medal was awarded.
Host nation
- To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 150 | 84 | 74 | 308 | |
| 2 | * | 96 | 80 | 84 | 260 |
| 3 | 44 | 73 | 72 | 189 | |
| 4 | 20 | 26 | 30 | 76 | |
| 5 | 15 | 12 | 24 | 51 | |
| 6 | 14 | 19 | 10 | 43 | |
| 7 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 36 | |
| 8 | 10 | 17 | 25 | 52 | |
| 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 33 | |
| 10 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 36 |
|
| 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| 12 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 30 | |
| 13 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 17 | |
| 14 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 23 | |
| 15 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 18 | |
| 16 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | |
| 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | |
| 18 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 26 | |
| 19 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| 20 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |
| 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
| 22 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 13 | |
| 23 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | |
| 23 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | |
| 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 26 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 14 | |
| 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 28 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| 29 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 30 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 32 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| 32 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| 34 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 34 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|
| Total | 427 | 421 | 502 | 1350 | |
Medal distribution
Changes in medal standings
| Ruling date | Sport | Event | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2002 | Bodybuilding Bodybuilding at the 2002 Asian Games Bodybuilding was one of the many sports which was held at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea between 3 and 6 October 2002. The competition took place at Busan Citizens' Hall... |
Men's +90 kg | –1 | –1 | ||
| +1 | +1 |
On October 7, 2002, the Olympic Council of Asia announced that the bodybuilding
Bodybuilding at the 2002 Asian Games
Bodybuilding was one of the many sports which was held at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea between 3 and 6 October 2002. The competition took place at Busan Citizens' Hall...
bronze medalist in the +90 kg weight category Youssef El-Zein of Lebanon was relieved of his medal for not submitting to a drugs test. After El-Zein was disqualified, the bronze medal in the +90 kg category went to Choi Jae-Duck of South Korea (who had finished fourth).
Six days later, Japanese news agency Kyodo News
Kyodo News
is a nonprofit cooperative news agency based in Minato, Tokyo. It was established in November 1945 and it distributes news to almost all newspapers, and radio and television networks in Japan. The newspapers using its news have about 50 million subscribers. K. K. Kyodo News is Kyodo News' business...
reported that Indian middle distance runner Sunita Rani
Sunita Rani
Sunita Rani is an Indian athlete who won a gold medal in the 1,500 m and a bronze medal in the 5,000 m during the 14th Asian Games. She was awarded Arjuna award and Padma Shri for her achievements.She is currently working as DSP in Punjab police.- References :...
had tested positive for a banned substance, which was later confirmed by Lee Choon-Sup, Deputy Secretary General of the Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee; an unofficial report stated that the substance was the anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
. Sunita had won two medals in athletics
Athletics at the 2002 Asian Games
-Medal summary:-Men's events:-Women's events:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
: a gold in the 1,500 m (setting an Asian Games record) and a bronze in the 5,000 m, (in which Sunita jointly bettered the Games record set by Indonesian
Demographics of Indonesia
The population of Indonesia according to the 2010 national census is 237.6 million, with 58% living on the island of Java, the world's most populous island....
Suprianti Sutono in Bangkok during the 1998 Asian Games
1998 Asian Games
The 13th Asian Games were held from December 6 to December 20, 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first time that Thailand bid for the event after it shouldered the two postponed hosting rights in 1970 and 1978.-Emblem:...
with six other athletes). The Indian Chef de Mission at the Games backed Sunita—who denied using any banned drug—and asked for a "B" sample test from Bangkok, but tests were run only at the Asian Games’ Doping Control Center (AGDCC) in Seoul (the laboratory accredited by the IOC). On October 16, the AGDCC confirmed the steroid nandrolone in Sunita's urine sample; as a consequence, the OCA stripped her of both medals and dismissed her Asian Games record for the 1,500 m.
The Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events...
(IOA) requested the intervention of the International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
and the IOC; the samples were jointly reexamined by the World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
and the IOC Sub-Commission on Doping and Biochemistry of Sport. In January 2003, the OCA announced that the IOC Medical Director had cleared Sunita of the doping charge and that appropriate action would be taken against the AGDCC. Both of Sunita's medals were reinstated on February 4, 2003, in a ceremony attended by the Secretary General of OCA Randhir Singh and the president of the IOA Suresh Kalmadi
Suresh Kalmadi
Suresh Kalmadi is an Indian politician and senior sports administrator. He was formerly a member of the Indian National Congress...
.