Indonesian Gymnast Allegedly Banned From SEA Games By Coach Because She’s Not a Virgin

If you’re like me and the only sport you enjoy watching is the one where 22 men chase a ball, you’re probably unaware that the 30th SEA Games kicked off two days ago (30 Nov) in the Philippines.

The SEA Games is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the 11 countries of Southeast Asia.

Here, athletes can showcase their sporting abilities and bring honour to their country if they manage to win in their respective fields.

Some athletes, however, will do anything to win, like doping. Just two years ago, a Malaysian diver who failed a doping test at the SEA Games was banned for two years as a result.

And this year, an Indonesian gymnast was banned because she was also caught doping, I assume?

Indonesian Coach: Nah, it’s because she’s not a virgin. 

Oh, of course. That happens all the time. That’s why Lance Armstrong was banned too, right?

Indonesian Gymnast Banned From SEA Games By Coach Because She’s Not a Virgin

Up until mid-November, Shalfa Avrila Sania, an Indonesia gymnast, was looking forward to the SEA Games where she could showcase her talent in front of millions.

Unfortunately, she was suddenly dismissed from the national squad by her coach after he claimed she was no longer a virgin.

Unless gymnastics has drastically changed in the last few years, I can’t see what one’s virginity has to do with it.

And, how did he even know?

At any rate, the parents were, understandably, outraged.

In an interview with local media, her mother, Ayu Kurniawati, said: “The coach said my daughter always goes out late with her male friends and their interrogation showed she was no longer a virgin”.

Shalfahas won nearly 50 medals since she took up gymnastics at the young age of 8. So, her dismissal clearly had nothing to do with her performance.

Now, this is where it gets a little weird. OK, it was already weird. Here’s where it gets weirder.

Virginity test

Her mother Ayu also felt that the coach’s accusation had soiled her reputation and dignity. So, in an effort to disprove the coach’s accusation, Shalfa’s family actually took her for a medical report to prove that her hymen is in fact still intact.

According to World of Buzz, they even sent the report to the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports to protest her coach’s dismissal.

I have a few problems with this.

Firstly, the hymen is not an accurate indicator of virginity. It can be torn during sex, yes, but also during physical activity.

Secondly, if someone dismisses your daughter from a sporting event because they claimed she had sex, should your reaction really be to take her to a virginity test?

Who cares if she’s had sex or not? What does it have to do with her performance? And why is her reputation damaged if she’s had sex?

Ministry’s response

When asked by the media, a spokesperson for the Ministry, Gatot S. Dewa Broto, claimed that Shalfa’s dismissal was actually due to performance and disciplinary issues.

He added that “We will take firm action if the athlete was sent back due to questions over her virginity because this is a matter of privacy, dignity and has nothing to do with performance.”

Well, that’s heartening to hear. If that’s true, that is.

If Shalfa really was dismissed because she allegedly had sex, then I hope the ministry will stick to their word and punish the coach for his abominable behaviour.