(Ni CHINKY ABUNDO)
HINDI makikialam ang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sa kontrobersiya sa liderato ng swimming association.
Ayon kay POC president Ricky Vargas, tanging ang pamunuan ng Philippine Swimmng Inc. (PSI) ang makalulutas ng nasabing suliranin.
“As far as the POC is concerned, these issues are inter-corporate, so they have to work within the rules of their own association,” ayon kay Vargas.
Kinuwestiyon ng mga dating Olympian na sina Eric Buhain na dati ring PSC chair, Ral Rosario at Akiko Thomson, maging si former swim coach Pinky Brosas ang otoridad ni PSI head Lani Velasco na magpatawag ng isang pambansang kongreso.
Ayon kay Vargas, ang pagkuwestiyon sa pamumuno ni Velasco ay isyung dapat pag-usapan ng mga miyembro ng National Sports Associaton (NSA).
Labasang POC sa ganitong usapin, diin niya.
Matatandaang sinuspinde ng POC ang pagkilala sa PSI bilang lehitimong NSA sa swimming.
Pero, agad itong binawi matapos na kilalanin ng International Swimming Federation (FINA) at Asian Swmming Federation ang liderato ni Velasco.
“All their questions are violations of the rules. It’s amongst themselves,” ani Vargas “Our only involvement is in terms of recognition. What we are trying to say is that the elections conducted were duly recognized by the IF (international federation) and the POC.”
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