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Pole vault Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (Photograph from EJ’s Fb web page)
MANILA – A celebration-list lawmaker on Monday referred to as on the Philippine Sports activities Fee (PSC) to defund the Philippine Athletics Observe and Subject Affiliation (PATAFA) after its non-endorsement of pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for the World Indoor Championships (WIC) in Serbia.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Occasion-list Rep. Jericho Nograles mentioned PATAFA’s motion towards Obiena reveals that its existence will not be for the very best curiosity of Philippine sports activities, because the athlete’s non-inclusion would deny the nation a assured medal win within the WIC.
“The PSC ought to cease funding PATAFA and direct all help to particular person athletes. PATAFA has misplaced all of the ethical proper to signify the Philippines as an NSA (nationwide sports activities affiliation) due to its motion towards Obiena. We’re simply losing taxpayers’ cash on PATAFA,” Nograles mentioned in an announcement.
Nograles additionally urged different authorities establishments just like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Company and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Workplace to cease giving any help for PATAFA.
“Go straight to the athletes, and cease funding PATAFA,” Nograles mentioned.
Nograles mentioned the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) must also make a illustration for the Philippines to attraction to the Worldwide Affiliation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Asian Athletics Affiliation (AAA) to attraction for Obiena’s case.
In his assertion on Saturday night time, Obiena mentioned the most important loser of PATAFA’s choice to not endorse him for the World Indoor Championship is the Philippines.
“At present the nation I like loses,” the title of Obiena’s assertion reads.
He insisted that he’s in “prime bodily and psychological situation” to compete, however with out PATAFA’s endorsement, he now wants to observe the occasion from the sidelines.
“The nation has not been put first by all. Nation comes after private concerns for some. That is greater than unlucky. The nation pays the worth,” Obiena continued. “If the nation was ever put first, I needs to be headed to Belgrade now. However I’m not.”
He turned emotional in the long run by saying, “I shed a tear now with a heavy coronary heart, however not only for myself. I shed a tear for my nation. We had an opportunity to point out the world our greatness. And we misplaced it.”
Obiena’s rift with the PATAFA has reached the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport after PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico filed a criticism towards the Tokyo Olympian and the POC final February 11.
The rift revolves round Obiena’s liquidation of his coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries that advanced into the athlete’s accusation of harassment by his NSA. (PNA)
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