TINAPOS na ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ang pagrereperi sa pagitan nina EJ Obiena at Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).
Nagdesisyon ang PSC na tigilan nang mamagitan sa dalawang kampo matapos aminin ng Tokyo Olympian na hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagbalewala ng PATAFA sa moratorium ng PSC, lalo ang patuloy na paninira nito sa kanyang pagkatao.
“In light of the recent decision of Mr. Ernest John Obiena as posted on his social media account, the Philippine Sports Commission humbly informs the public that we are discontinuing the mediation offer,” pahayag ng national sports agency.
“The agency leaves the mediation table, respecting the decision of Mr. Obiena who chose to submit to procedures conducted by other institutions,” dagdag ng PSC.
Pinararatangan ng PATAFA ang 26-anyos na national at Asian record holder sa pole vault ng ‘pandodoktor’ sa financial liquidation reports at hindi pagbabayad sa kanyang Ukranian coach na si Vitaly Petrov.
Matatandaang nag-offer ng mediation ang PSC sa PATAFA at kay Obiena makaraang ipitin ng Senado ang 2022 budget ng ahensiya dahil sa “hands-off” approach nito.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Obiena na wala siyang isyu sa PSC. Pinasinungalingan din ni Petrov ang akusasyon ng PATAFA at iginiit na binabayaran siya ng pole vaulter.
“This all started with accusations my coach wasn’t paid. We all know this is false. 100% false. Then it shifted to ‘I paid him late’ which I admit to. But as anyone can see tracking the payments to me, all of us involved are collectively late. Then it shifted to ‘I violated liquidation processes’. As shown in the recent House hearing, it’s clear the processes I followed had clear support by the parties involved,” ani Obiena.
“After this, what is there to mediate? Every accusation had been refuted. What is left is a clearing of my good name, my full reinstatement, and necessary changes to the system to avoid this situation to ever happen again and avoid this burden being placed on athletes,” sabi pa ni Obiena, na nangakong patuloy na irerepresent ang bansa sa international competitions sa kabila ng gusot nila ng kinaaanibang national sports agency.
Ito ay sa kabila ng pangamba ng maraming netizens na magaya si Obiena kay chess Grand Master Wesley So, na lumipat ng federation noong 2014 at ngayo’y naglalaro na para sa United States.
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