Ernest John Obiena from the Philippines clears the bar within the males’s pole vault athletics occasion on the SEA Video games (Southeast Asian Video games) within the athletics stadium in Clark Metropolis, Capas, Tarlac province north of Manila on December 7, 2019. Khongprasit gained. (Photograph by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) bemoaned the rift between EJ Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Monitor and Subject Affiliation (Patafa) over the alleged falsification of liquidation paperwork.
The POC additionally vowed to launch a probe on the problem that has career-threatening implications for the fifth-best pole vaulter on the earth.
“We’re in deepest remorse to comprehend that certainly one of our Olympians, multi-medalist and nice inspiration Ernest John Obiena of athletics, to be concerned on this squabble along with his dwelling federation,” POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino mentioned in a press release.
Obiena demanded a public apology and retraction of allegations from Patafa whereas additionally threatening to retire.
Patafa ordered Obiena to return 85,000 euros (over P4.8 million) in monetary assist supposed for the wage of his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov after claiming that the Tokyo Olympian “falsified the liquidations” he submitted to the federation.
“I’m very disenchanted. They may have dealt with the state of affairs internally absent of any misfires from each events,” Tolentino mentioned. “A bountiful profession is now in peril.”
Obiena, 25, holds the Asian pole vault document which he set in Innsbruck, Austria final September.
“For sure, we, Filipinos, shall be disadvantaged of two gold medals within the Vietnam Southeast Asian Video games in 2022 and in Cambodia 2023, to not point out one other one within the Asian Video games additionally subsequent yr and most significantly, a illustration within the Paris Olympics come 2024, because of the fiasco within the management of his group,” Tolentino mentioned.
“We may have simply propagated this achievement to the youth by correct steerage and real perspective.”
The POC’s Ethics Committee has been tasked to analyze on the matter, which has caught the eye of the Senate as senators recalled the proposed 2022 price range of the Philippine Sports activities Fee (PSC) through the price range plenary deliberations on Monday.
“Because the PSC is the supply of funds, it may have simply—below its mandate—intervened and corrected the identical from the very starting,” Tolentino mentioned.
“However we within the POC shall be steadfast and for the sake of Olympism and impartiality, will go into the main points and examine the matter.”
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