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UAAP slaps indefinite ban on Aldin Ayo for 'Sorsogon bubble' controversy
The University of Athletic Association of the Philippines has slapped an indefinite ban on University of Santo Tomas head coach Aldin Ayo following probe into the "Sorsogon bubble" controversy.
In a statement on Wednesday, the league said Ayo is barred from "participating, in any capacity, in all UAAP events and UAAP sanctioned-activities."
"The ban is based on the UST report that showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak," the statement read.
Ayo resigned as the head coach of the UST men's basketball team. He apologized to "those who have been adversely affected" by the team's activity and for exposing the university to "much condemnation."
UST athletic director Fr. Jannel Abogado also stepped down from his post after his name reportedly appeared on an alleged waiver for the training bubble.
Reports on the training bubble surfaced after the sudden departure of former Growling Tigers team captain CJ Cansino.
Cansino, who has since transferred to the University of the Philippines
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In the aftermath of the revelations, UST players Brent Paraiso, Rhenz Abando, Ira Bataller, and Jun Asuncion left the team.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusement Board (GAB), and Department of Health (DOH), which issued a Joint Administrative Order on the conduct of sports activities amid the pandemic, looked into the case together with the Commission on Higher Education.
CHED chair Popoy de Vera said a show cause order will be issued to UST and National University, which faces similar allegations, to explain why they should not be sanctioned.
De Vera said it's up to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to determine if the two universities violated safety and health protocols. —MGP, GMA News