More senators rally behind Olympian EJ Obiena amid rift with PATAFA

More senators have rallied behind Olympian EJ Obiena amid his ongoing rift with Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

In a statement, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Obiena should not be “sidetracked" by impending law suits over allegations of misuse of funds.

“Leave EJ alone. Allow him to focus on his tournaments,” Sotto said.

“I was a national athlete too and I feel the frustration that our pole vaulter is feeling now. It’s hard to train in another country without your family and the culture that you are used to. Our athletes represent the country [on] a different level. They should be getting our support and not being attacked by sports associations,” he added.

The Senate chief also said the rift between Obiena and PATAFA was “handled unprofessionally.”

“What was PATAFA thinking when it attacked our athlete? All persons involved in this mess should meet privately and resolve their issues without the glare of cameras,” Sotto said.

Meanwhile, Senate sports committee chairman Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed disappointment over PATAFA’s latest actions against Obiena, warning of a possible Senate probe to determine whether there were lapses on the part of the government or the athletics body.

“I am disappointed that these issues are taking the attention away from the support and praise that should be given to world-class and promising pole vaulter EJ Obiena,” Go said in a statement.

“As the country’s pride, he has the weight of a whole nation on his shoulders. The least we can do is unburden him with these issues,” he added.

The senator reminded PATAFA that it is its duty to help the national athletes resolve conflicts and provide for their needs.

“I urge PATAFA, [Philippine Olympic Committee] and [Philippine Sports Commission] to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will be compelled to call for a legislative inquiry to find out if there are lapses and excesses on their part,” Go warned.

On Wednesday, boxing legend-turned-lawmaker Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday also sided with Obiena, saying world-class athletes like him should be spared from “senseless conflicts."

In a statement last Monday, Senator Pia Cayetano also expressed “disgust” over the actions and statements made by PATAFA’s Phillip Ella Juico, whom she said was “single-handedly killing the spirit of Filipino athletes.”

Cayetano noted Obiena’s intention to join the PSC’s mediation process, despite the “underhanded treatment” he received from PATAFA even after rendering full accounting of funds for his training and his coach.

“What should have been a feel good movie with EJ ending the year as the top Asian pole vaulter and ranked [number three] in the world, has turned into a horror movie where a vindictive Juico is attacking and attacking EJ,” Cayetano had said.

“I expect PSC to step up and put an end to all this now. During the Senate's budget deliberations last December, PSC Chair William Ramirez committed to step in and act decisively. The PSC even warned in a subsequent statement that it would be constrained to sanction PATAFA should the mediation process fail,” she noted.

The lawmakers made the separate statements after PATAFA has recommended dropping Obiena from the national team over an alleged misuse of funds.

The athletics body also said it is set to file a criminal complaint against Obiena Olympian “insofar as the funds of PATAFA in the amount of 6000 Euros are concerned representing the coaching fees for the months of May 2018 to August 2018.”

Other recommendations of PATAFA include filing a complaint against Obiena's coach Vitaliy Petrov before World Athletics for violating the Integrity Code of Conduct, termination of Petrov as a PATAFA coach, and declaring Obiena's adviser James Lafferty as a persona non-grata.

On Thursday, PATAFA, in a letter addressed to PSC chairman William Ramirez, said it will defer the implementation of  the recommendations made by its administrative committee concerning Obiena.—LDF, GMA NEWS