Obiena coach Petrov on PATAFA: If they're dropping a world class athlete...then what is this federation doing?

EJ Obiena's coach Vitaliy Petrov broke his silence days after the Filipino Olympian formally withdrew from the Philippine Sports Commission's offer to mediate between him and his national sports association, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, Petrov questioned PATAFA's move towards him and Obiena.

"If this Federation is dropping a world class athlete instead of helping, drops his coach who have trained him to be one of the best pole vaulters, brands a sport patron persona non grata who have done nothing but helped bring this Filipino boy to where he is now, then I ask what is this federation doing?" Petrov asked.

On January 4, PATAFA recommended the removal of Obiena from its pool and the filing of charges against him for alleged misuse of funds. Also included in the recommendation are filing a complaint to World Athletics regarding Petrov's alleged violation of the Integrity Code of Conduct, terminating him as coach, and declaring Obiena's adviser James Lafferty as persona non-grata. 

In the same post, Petrov also claimed that PATAFA or its chief Phillip Juico never helped him since he handled Obiena.

"From the 7 years of work that I have done with EJ, I have never heard PATAFA or Mr. Philip Juico ask me what they can do to help me develop EJ," Petrov wrote.

"Money has never been an issue. There are even times where I spend my own money, like paying for a gymnastic coach to help EJ improve," he added.

Petrov said coaching is his passion and developing talents like Obiena is one of his motivations.

"I coach EJ day in and out because of my passion and genuine care for this young Filipino boy. Truth be told, I call him 'my boy' all the time as I see my athletes as my own family like my own sons and daughters," he said.

Recently, Obiena said Petrov and his sponsors funded his knee surgery. 

Petrov added that after working hard for the past seven years, Obiena is now "a true contender in the event and one of the best pole vaulters in the world."

"Now that the time has come for EJ to realize his hard work; reap the reward of our time and effort then suddenly PATAFA cancels me as their coach," Petrov continued, adding that he is not the coach of Juico, but of top pole vaulters such as Obiena, Thiago Braz, and Surgey Bubka.

"In my humble view I have helped a young boy from a country that didn’t have the history or the resources to create a world-class pole vaulter. Now that EJ is finally a top 5 pole vaulter in the world, his own Federation President, Philip Ella Juico, kicks him out of the team for nothing," he said.

"In my opinion athletes should only be thinking about their training and performance. Everything else is an additional burden and distraction that they don’t need."

Petrov said in his 57 years of coaching experience, never was he "scorned by any federation of any nation that I have worked with."

"Now PATAFA and Mr. Philip Juico, who has never done anything to help me, drops me as a coach and removes my athlete that has a great future in this sport," he said.

Obiena on Monday formally withdrew from the PSC mediation offer due to the alleged "bad faith" of PATAFA. 

Prior to Obiena's withdrawal, PATAFA previously agreed on entering mediation. 

The PSC said it will temporarily put on hold the mediation process following the development, but noted that mediation is still the best way to resolve the conflict between Obiena and PATAFA. — LA, GMA News