POC slams PATAFA for not endorsing EJ Obiena for major tournaments

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) lashed out at the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) for its refusal to endorse top Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena for major international competitions.

According to POC, Obiena, who ranks fifth in the world, wrote a letter to the athletics body to seek endorsement for four top tournaments this year.

The list included the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade from March 18 to 20, Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi from May 12 to 23, World Championships in Eugene, Oregon from July 15 to 24, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou from September 12 to 25.

PATAFA, however, turned down Obiena's request as per a letter signed by the federation's training director Renato Unso on Monday.

“Again, how many more gold medals or what more achievements does EJ need to get Patafa’s endorsement?” POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino asked in a statement.

“He’s the best in Asia and his numbers have been rising consistently, but still he’s bound to be denied more medals for the country.”

Obiena's rift with his mother federation had recently reached the desk of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following PATAFA president Philip Ella "Popoy" Juico's "statement of appeal" to the Switzerland-based body.

The appeal came just days after both the camp of Obiena and PATAFA agreed to enter into mediation anew through a Senate hearing last February 7.

With no endorsement from PATAFA, Obiena might be barred from competing in high-caliber tournaments this year even after winning two gold medals in Poland last month.

“My 5.81m jump in my two title wins in the Orlen Cup (February 13) and the Orlen Copernicus Cup (February 23) both in Poland officially made the standard required for the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championship and 2022 World Athletics Championship,” Obiena said in his letter to PATAFA addressed to the federation’s board.

“It is also better than my 2019 SEA Games gold medal standard and the 2018 Asian Games Gold medal standard.”

PATAFA denied Obiena's appeal citing the non-completion of mediation procedures.

“By authority of the PATAFA Board of Trustees, please be informed that the Patafa Board of Trustees will not act on your letter…pending completion of the mediation process being conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission,” the Patafa said in its response.

—JMB, GMA News