Butch Ramirez speaks on 'moral challenges' in sports amid UST's alleged breach of protocols

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez spoke on "moral challenges" in sports amid the alleged breach of quarantine protocols by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) men's basketball team.

In a press release on Monday, Ramirez did not name UST but shared his thoughts on the "disquiet about the alleged training of a university in Sorsogon."

The PSC chair said the issue is "much bigger than sports" and "questions our priorities" as a society.

"Does winning always mean everything else takes second place? Are we so focused on winning that we are ready to compromise important matters like the safety of the youth we are supposed to guide?" he asked.

"Is the athletic development and achievement, or team readiness more paramount that overstepping bounds, compromising one's safety or putting your team credibility on the line takes a back seat?" he added.

Ramirez said the PSC is duty-bound to uphold government regulations as part of the group which oversees physical activities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We made every effort to send home every one of our more than 1,600 national athletes home. Their safety weighs more than any color of honor that continued training may produce," he said. "Your life, dear athletes, is more important than any medal could ever equal."

On Saturday, PSC officials met with the UAAP, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), and the Department of Health (DOH) to discuss the alleged violation of the UST Growling Tigers.

In a statement on Sunday, UST said they will conduct their own probe on the matter.

Reports of UST's "training bubble" surfaced after team captain CJ Cansino parted ways with the España-based squad. The ex-King Tiger neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

For his part, UST head coach Aldin Ayo declined to speak about it because of the ongoing investigation. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News