Eje Obiana can again represent the Philippines without problems. – Finder file image
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) and pole vault AC EJ Obina buried the hatchet last week, and as an added value, the sports body was warmly welcomed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executive board.
POC President Rep. Abraham “Bumblebee” Talentino similarly announced on Monday that the ban on Patafa president Philippe El Juico had been lifted following a fruitful mediation process between the track association and its renowned athletes.
With both bans, the suspension on Patafa and the personality non-grata tag on Juico removed, the country’s governing body in athletics will resume its active position with the POC and act as a supervisor of national track and field athletes.
Both Patafa and Obiena are now going through a healing process with the Athletics Body setting up a digital gathering for all its national athletes, including Obiena.
“As I said before, there is no defeat, only victory. The main winner is the Filipino athlete, “said Talentino.
Indications of the POC’s goodwill cover almost six months of controversy. It was started due to irregularities in the imposition of Patafa against Voltaire, the world’s No. 5 accused of late payment of salary to his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.
The long-running feud between the two sides reached a favorable conclusion on Wednesday last week with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission. INQ
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