THE athletics federation turned down Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s request for endorsement for four major international competitions the closest of which are the World Indoor Championships in Serbia later this month. Obiena, the Asian record holder in men’s pole vault, is appalled and so is the Philippine Olympic Committee. “What do…
MB File Photo The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) slammed the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PatafA) for refusing to endorse world No. 5 pole vaulter EJ Obiena in four major international competitions including the World Indoor Championships in Serbia later this month. Obiena
World-class pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena (Obiena's FB page photo) MANILA - The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Thursday howled over the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association's (Patafa) refusal to endorse world-class pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena in four major international competitions-including the World Indoor Championships in Serbia later this month. Obiena, the Asian record holder in men's pole vault, wrote the Patafa on February 24 seeking his endorsement for the world indoors in Belgrade (March 18 to 20), 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi (May 12 to 23), World Championships in Eugene (Oregon, July 15 to 24) and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 12 to 25). But the Patafa denied Obiena's request in a letter signed by Patafa Training Director Renato Unso on Monday. "Again, how many more gold medals or what more achievements does EJ need to get Patafa's endorsement?" POC president Rep. Abrah
THE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) advised Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, to submit to mediation at the invitation of the government, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). In a joint statement on behalf of the Patafa Board of Trustees, Patafa chairman Rufus Rodriguez and president Dr. Philip Ella Juico stressed the sentiment of the federation board…