Obiena-PATAFA row rages

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday slammed the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) for its decision not to endorse Olympian pole-vaulter EJ Obiena in four international meets including the World Indoor Championships set March 18 to 20 in Belgrade, Serbia.

“Again, how many more gold medals or what more achievements does EJ need to get PATAFA’s endorsement?” said POC president Abraham Tolentino.

Then, there’s the case PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico lodged against Obiena and the POC at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last Feb. 11.

Juico stressed the CAS case has nothing to do with liquidation issue Obiena has been embroiled in.

“The case has nothing to do with the integrity issues Obiena faces. POC fails to realize these are two separate issues,” said Juico. “Why not bring POC action to CAS? The POC shouldn’t have gotten involved in a clearly internal matter and therefore legally and morally wrong.”