Lopez rues suspension but backs AIBA

MANILA, Philippines - Former ABAP president Manny Lopez said yesterday he couldn’t dispute his three-year suspension as an AIBA Executive Committee member before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) because of a technicality but didn’t take it against AIBA president Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu who meted out the penalty as a disciplinary measure.

Lopez failed to appeal the suspension within the 21-day limit set by the CAS and sought a reconsideration from counsel Louise Reilly who is based in Lausanne. But Reilly, an Irish lawyer, cited Article R32 of the CAS Code to turn down Lopez’ request.

AIBA executive director Ho Kim informed Lopez of his three-year suspension last November due to the Philippine team’s protest in the boxing finals of the 2007 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and “continuous circulated allegations without evidence which is a big offense to AIBA’s image.”

Lopez was chastised by AIBA for ordering the Filipino fighters, both male and female, to virtually surrender in the SEA Games finals in protest of what he called “manipulation” by the Thai hosts. He was also reprimanded for engaging AIBA officials in a word war, both oral and written, on sensitive issues, including financial matters.

“I’m not against Dr. Wu,” said Lopez. “We are one in trying to institute reforms in AIBA. But let me clarify that my suspension had nothing to do with honor or integrity. I never stole any money. Because of the suspension, the perception is I’m a villain. The truth is I accepted the suspension, which is personal, to spare the Philippines, ABAP and our fighters from any penalty. I wanted to dispute it before the CAS but my appeal came too late. Still, I stand by my principles. I was just doing my job in AIBA. Perhaps, I was too vocal in my eagerness to bring out immediate reforms.”

Lopez was recently elected ABAP vice president and POC First Vice President. He said his support for the new ABAP leadership, headed by chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas, is unconditional.

“My concern is I don’t want to put ABAP in a bad light,” said Lopez. “I support the new ABAP leadership – that is my commitment. My loyalty is to the sport. In any way I could support AIBA and ABAP, I will. When I was Asian Amateur Boxing Federation secretary-general from 2002-08, I made it a point to stimulate interest in the sport in Taiwan which is Dr. Wu’s home country. In 2004, I organized an international women’s boxing competition in Hualien and the next year, I was the technical delegate at the Asian Women’s Championships in Kaoshiung. I was an AIBA troubleshooter as an Executive Committee member for two years and Technical Committee member for five years. I was given tough assignments but I always came through with excellent results.”

Lopez was recognized by Wu for staging the Cadet World Championships in Azerbaijian in 2007. Wu said it was “best Cadet World Championships ever staged.” Lopez was also head technical delegate at the 2006 Busan Asian Games and several Olympic qualifiers and Continental championships.

“I did my best for AIBA,” said Lopez. “Dr. Wu is cleaning up the ranks and I was swept away with nine others who were suspended from the Executive Committee, some for anomalies.”

Lopez, 47, took over the ABAP presidency in 1993 when his father Mel was appointed PSC chairman. During his watch, the Philippines bagged a silver medal in the Olympics, five gold medals in the Asian Games and a truckload of gold medals in the SEA Games.

His father and three others, namely Karl Heinz Weir of Germany, Paul Connor of the US and Ricardo Contreras of Mexico , backed up Wu in his first attempt to topple long-time AIBA president Anwar Chowdry in the 1994 polls. Wu lost and also failed in his second bid in 1998. Chowdry ran unopposed in 2002 but was finally outvoted by Wu in 2006. The next elections will be held in 2010 in Busan.

Lopez said he was critical of AIBA anti-doping administrator Anne Bloch for not acting to award the gold medal to Filipino middleweight Junie Tizon after Thai winner Suriya Prasathinpimal was disqualified for using illegal drugs in the 2007 SEA Games and vocal in questioning items in AIBA’s 2007 financial report that showed a loss of 1.7 million Swiss francs.

Regarding AIBA’s commitment to deliver $5,000 worth of items, including a laptop and boxing equipment, to every country affiliate each year starting 2007, Lopez said the ABAP has received only a one-time shipment of Adidas gloves, headgear and bandages valued at $1,704 last year.

In a letter to Wu, Lopez said, “I believe that you are a very principled man and your no-nonsense drive to cleanse the sport deserves the support of the boxing family.” He sacrificed himself in accepting a three-year suspension without jeopardy to the Philippines, ABAP and Filipino boxers.