PANANAGUTAN ng NSAs (National Sports Associations) na namamahala ng bawat sport ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga atleta.

Ito ang naging reaksyon ni Dr. Celso “Cito” Dayrit, pangulo ng Fencing Confederation of Asia, sa panukalang batas na nagbabawal sa mga kabataang Pinoy na wala pa sa hustong gulang na lumahok sa paligsahan sa martial arts at iba pang combat sports.

Sa isang liham na ipinadala kay Rep. John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, chairman ng House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, ipinayo ni Dayrit, dating pangulo ng Philippine Olympic Committee at commissioner ng Philippine Sports Commission, na sa halip na isabatas ang panukala ay tutukan na lamang ang tamang pagpapatakbo sa mga combat sports tournaments.

“While I support the concerns raised in protecting the safety of young athletes, I submit that focus should instead be given in the running of such sports competitions, such that games organizers must have the guidance and supervision of the legitimate sports authorities and qualified competition officials who are trained and licensed to safeguard the health and safety of all competitors,” ani Dayrit sa kanyang liham sa mambabatas.

Binanggit pa ni Dayrit ang kaso ng isang batang ­boksingerong nasawi noong 2013 Palarong Pambansa, kung saan ang Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), bilang tagapamahala ng boksing sa bansa, ay hindi naimporma sa paligsahan.

Si Dr. Dayrit ang kaisa-isang Pilipinong kinikilalang International Course Director ng Olympic Solidarity Itinerant Administration School for sports leaders. Isa rin siyang miyembro ng Federation ­Internationale D’Escrime at kinatawan ng ­Veteran’s Council nito.

Lahat ng sport, paliwanag ni Dayrit, ay pag-aari at pinamamahalaan ng kanya-kanyang International Sports Federations (IFs).

“Throughout the years, these IFs develop their sports to improve competition rules to allow their athletes to perform at their optimum level, enhance spectator understanding and appeal, and promote fair play. Moreover, IFs also continuously improve their competition guidelines and regulations to ensure athletes health and safety, control occurrence of cheating and violence, and administer efficient officiating, judging and arbitration.”

Dagdag na paliwanag niya: “To achieve these, IFs spend considerable time, effort and funding in producing qualified and effective competition and technical officials who would apply and implement the rules and regulations efficiently. As such only IFs governing their sport has the responsibility and authority to accredit qualified individuals, as certified “licensed” referees, umpires, jury or ­judges. Only “licensed” officials are authorized to officiate in major international competitions such as the Olympic, Asian and Southeast Asian Games, as well as in all international, continental and regional sports ­championships.”

Iginiit ni Dayrit: “On the national level, IFs are represented by their accredited National Sports Associations (NSAs), which act as the governing ­bodies of their sports in the country. This role of all NSAs are recognized by Philippine Law through Republic Act 6847′, pagdidiin nidayrit. “Though it is of common knowledge that these NSAs have the exclusive right to train their national ­athletes for participation in all international competitions, such NSAs also have the ­responsibility of promoting and developing their sport in the country, as well as to ensure that any competition adheres strictly with the approved competition and technical rules of the IFs.”

Kaya mas makabubuti umano para sa bansa at mga atleta, mula sa grassroots level hanggang sa elite national team, na sundin ang “internationally accepted structure of the Olympic Movement” at respetuhin ang role and authority ng lahat ng sports stakeholders.