EJ Obiena’s coach rebuffs Patafa ‘witch hunt,’ says he by no means complained about pay

EJ Obiena (proper) and Vitaly Petrov talk about technique throughout a break in competitors within the qualifying spherical of the Tokyo Olympics pole vault competitors. —FRANCIS T. J. OCHOA

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obienia’s legendary pole vault coach Vitaly Petrov not solely clarified that he was paid his dues but in addition cleared any misunderstanding that he it was him who approached the Philippine Athletics Monitor and Discipline Affiliation relating to his stipend.

Petrov delivered a powerful rebuke of the allegations towards Obiena, saying he by no means approached Patafa relating to his pay nor did he complain about his athlete relating to the difficulty of cash.

The Ukrainian coach added that Patafa president Philip Ella Juico “immediately approached and closely questioned him” together with former pole vaulter Sergey Bubka that pressured him into giving solutions the sporting official want to hear.

“I’ve by no means proactively complained to anybody on EJ and funds, particularly by no means to Patafa or some other Philippine sports activities official,” wrote Petrov. “What occurred is, I’ve been immediately approached by Philip Ella Juico and closely questioned, alongside my former athlete Sergey Bubka, in a fashion which confused me and I felt pressured to reply in a means that they wished me to reply.”

“I now perceive this was a targeted mission to try to discover fault with EJ. I answered and later signed a questionnaire as a result of I used to be made to grasp by their circuitous questioning and reasoning that this could facilitate smoother funds. I used to be tricked.”

Petrov added that he thought the questionnaire was going for use to assist creating smoother fee course of however was as an alternative, as he wrote, used “as a weapon to destroy a promising profession.”

“I by no means initiated such discourse or paperwork, it was initiated wholly by Philip Ella Juico.”

The Patafa, again in November, ordered Obiena to return €85,000 (roughly P4.8 million) for alleged falsification of paperwork and failing to pay Petrov.

Obiena has since hit again from the accusations and even employed the providers of accounting agency PricewaterhouseCoopers, thought to be among the best corporations on the planet, to audit the funds.

Petrov additionally careworn that Obiena did pay him, even exceeding the €85,000 that he was owed, and stated it was due to Patafa’s inefficiency that his stipend was generally late.

READ: EJ Obiena’s coach points assertion. | @tinaarceodumlao pic.twitter.com/AKbmTcNzVE

— INQUIRER Sports activities (@INQUIRERSports) December 1, 2021

“There isn’t any doubt that generally EJ has paid me late, and generally in irregular tranches and he defined to me that that is precipitated primarily by Patafa sending his allowance and my funds months-late… I do know that the cash is late due to Patafa’s inefficiency. As stated, I coach as a result of I like teaching. I don’t concentrate on these issues.”

“First, I’ve been totally paid by EJ Obiena. Secondly, I’ve no points with EJ Obiena. Thirdly, I by no means reached out to Patafa and I by no means initiated any criticism towards EJ Obiena. Fourth, I used to be misled by the proactive questioning of Philip Ella Juico and I mistakenly answered his questionnaire in response to the best way he wished me to which is to make EJ Obiena appear like a felony,” wrote Petrov.

“I’ve athletes who want me. I would not have extra time to waste on this proverbial witch hunt.”

Each Obiena and Patafa have been ordered by the Philippine Sports activities Fee to not situation any extra statements relating to the controversy. Philippine Olympic Committee’s ethics committee is about to start its probe subsequent week on a criticism filed by the star pole vaulter towards the federation.

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