Arbitration court to resolve all NSA rows

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland will now have the final say in resolving all leadership disputes in the country’s various national sports associations (NSAs).

The Philippine Olympic Committee recenlty ratified its charter, agreeing to use the provision in the International Olympic Committee and International Federations, allowing the Swiss-based CAS to resolve all NSA disputes.

“The International Olympic Committee and International Federations have a provision about the CAS as a place for mediation and arbitration,” said incoming POC board member Mark Joseph.

“The POC charter now includes this as a means to resolve conflict among Olympic parties. In other words, we are now respecting the jurisdiction of CAS ,” Joseph said.

He added the reason behind the move, approved by the POC as early as last August, is to do away with all NSA rows and resolving these through judicial means.

“The POC should be less mired in legal cases in the Philippine courts because mediation and arbitration locally and internationally are the better options,” said Joseph.

“But of course, one must seek all forms of administrative relief locally available first before we elevate it to CAS. The CAS decision is final and it’s not cheap to take cases there,” he said.

The POC has been hit by disputes in wushu, bowling, wrestling, archery and swimming.

“Basically, the new constitution of POC gives us the foundation for good governance of sports in the Philippines,” he said.

The signing of the new charter was held at POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr.’s residence in Forbes Park where he was officially inducted by Justice Renato Puno along with the other newly elected officers and board of directors.

They are boxing’s Manny Lopez and sepak takraw’s Mario Tanchangco (vice presidents), wushu’s Francis Camacho (treasurer), bodybuilding’s Corrina Mojica (auditor) and Joseph, archery’s Leonora Brawner, soft tennis’ Jeff Tamayo and judo’s Dave Carter. – Joey Villar