POC ready to Probe Cycling, Weightlifting Execs

Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit yesterday said the investigating committee it formed recently will start its probe on the controversies involving the cycling and weightlifting associations.
The five-man probe team, chaired by former POC president Rene Cruz with Salvador "Buddy" Andrada, Claudio Altura, Toto Africa and Rolly Rivera as members, has invited feuding parties in the Philippine Amateur Cycling Association and the Philippine Weightlifting Association to a meeting at its office today.

Embattled leaders Rodones Sicat of PWA and Joaquin Preysler of PACA said they would attend the meeting while their rival groups have yet to confirm their attendance.

"The parties involved will have to cooperate for the sake of the athletes because they can’t continue feuding among themselves," said Dayrit. "Its a question of if they are concerned more with the athletes or if they are only concerned on their posts."

"With the issue and the problem unsolved for almost or more than a month, its time for the POC to come in," he explained. "Mr. Sicat, himself asked for a voluntary arbitration by the POC which can be construed as an admission he can’t solve the problem."

"As for Mr. Preysler, he called a summit on Jan. 13 to discuss the problem which goes to show that he too can’t solve it." – Joey Villar