By el Amigo

MANILA — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in partnership with the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO), sought to allay public concerns surrounding the iffy participation of athletes in the Olympics.

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann made the move last Friday (26 Jan 2024), assuring that the commission is diligently working towards full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code at the same time, he urged the nationals on Monday (29 Jan 2024) to stay focused on their respective trainings.

Only four (4) national athletes have so far qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics slated Friday, July 26, 2024, to Sunday, August 11, 2024.

EJ Obiena earned a ticket into the Paris Olympics after hitting the qualifying mark at the BAUHAUS-Galan meet of the 2023 Diamond League on 2 July 2023 even as middleweight Eumir Marcial qualified for the games by reaching the final of the middleweight division at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year.

Two gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan are also seeing action in the quadrennial meet. Yulo grabbed a seat for himself by being the highest-ranked eligible athlete in the men’s floor exercise while Aleah Finnegan qualified as she was one of the 14 highest-ranked eligible athletes in the women’s all-around at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Finnegan is the first Filipina gymnast to qualify for the Summer Olympics since 1964 featuring Maria-Luisa Floro and Evelyn Magluyan.

Bachmann’s response follows earlier reports suggesting the commission’s lack of adherence to the WADA Code, raising potential risks to the Philippine flag’s presence at the Paris Olympics, Paralympic Games, and other significant regional competitions like the Asian and Southeast Asian Games.

Initially given a deadline of January 22 by WADA, the PSC’s compliance timeline was extended to February 13 following the evaluation of PHI-NADO’s initial submission of requirements by the anti-doping agency.

According to the PSC’s statement on Friday night, PHI-NADO engaged in compliance-related activities from September to December of the previous year. Certain revisions to crucial Code requirements are underway based on WADA’s evaluations, with PHI-NADO anticipating closure within the next 21 days.

WADA’s letter to the PSC underscored the imperative for the sporting commission to adhere to the Code, specifically in developing and implementing an effective, intelligent, and proportionate Test Distribution Plan encompassing all Registered Testing Pool athletes from various sports or disciplines.

The letter stated that the PSC has until February 13 to contest WADA’s allegations of non-compliance, the associated consequences, and the proposed reinstatement conditions. Failure to dispute within 21 days would lead to the allegations being deemed admitted, automatically accepting the consequences and reinstatement conditions proposed by WADA.

The PSC stressed that these consequences were “avoidable” and emphasized their ongoing collaboration with WADA to address any remaining concerns. They expressed unwavering commitment to ensuring that national athletes can continue to compete on the global stage with honor and integrity.

(MNM)

MANILA — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in partnership with the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO), sought to allay public concerns surrounding the participation of athletes in the Olympics.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann announced on Friday, assuring that the commission is diligently working towards full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.

This response follows earlier reports suggesting a lack of adherence to the WADA Code by the commission, raising potential risks to the Philippine flag’s presence at the Paris Olympics, Paralympic Games, and other significant regional competitions like the Asian and Southeast Asian Games.

Initially given a deadline of January 22 by WADA, the PSC’s compliance timeline was extended to February 13 following the evaluation of PHI-NADO’s initial submission of requirements by the anti-doping agency.

According to the PSC’s statement on Friday night, PHI-NADO engaged in a series of compliance-related activities from September to December of the previous year. Currently, certain revisions to crucial Code requirements are underway based on WADA’s evaluations, with PHI-NADO anticipating closure within the next 21 days.

WADA’s letter to the PSC underscored the imperative for the sporting commission to adhere to the Code, specifically in developing and implementing an effective, intelligent, and proportionate Test Distribution Plan encompassing all Registered Testing Pool athletes from various sports or disciplines.

The letter stated that the PSC has until February 13 to contest WADA’s allegations of non-compliance, the associated consequences, and the proposed reinstatement conditions. Failure to dispute within 21 days would lead to the allegations being deemed admitted, automatically accepting the consequences and reinstatement conditions proposed by WADA.

The PSC stressed that these consequences were “avoidable” and emphasized their ongoing collaboration with WADA to address any remaining concerns. They expressed unwavering commitment to ensuring that national athletes can continue to compete on the global stage with honor and integrity.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. (PDRCI) renewed their commitment to sports arbitration in a formal agreement signed at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Thursday (18 Jan 2024).

PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann and PDRCI acting president Rogelio Nicandro officially sealed the memorandum of agreement (MOA), solidifying their collaboration since 2021. This partnership has played a crucial role in upholding fairness and accountability within the national sports associations, according to Bachmann’s statement.

In his remarks, Bachmann emphasized the significance of the renewed partnership, stating, “By renewing our alliance, we are reinforcing our dedication to providing athletes and stakeholders with a reliable and efficient avenue for dispute resolution.”

The primary objective of the MOA is to institutionalize and implement a sports Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) policy, particularly tailored for national sports associations. This initiative aims to ensure the swift and cost-effective resolution of sports-related disputes through a flexible, rule-guided procedure.

PDRCI Executive Director Arleo Magtibay Jr. expressed enthusiasm about the renewed partnership, asserting, “We firmly believe it is beneficial to our athletes, the NSAs, and all other stakeholders in Philippine sports.” Magtibay emphasized the importance of providing a venue for amicable and expeditious dispute resolution, allowing athletes and officials to focus on training and competitions to bring glory to the country.

The PSC had previously mandated NSAs to submit an Arbitration Provision to the sports agency as part of their Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. This requirement aligns with Section 181 of R.A. No. 11232, the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines.

The collaboration between PSC and PDRCI extends beyond the MOA, encompassing joint efforts in promoting the benefits of ADR. Both entities agreed to collaborate on various activities, including webinars, seminars, lectures, and other initiatives aimed at disseminating information and providing training on alternative dispute resolution.

The signing ceremony witnessed the presence of key figures, including PSC Commissioner Matthew “Fritz” Gaston, Executive Director Paulo Francisco Tatad, PDRCI Chairman Victor Lazatin, Sports Arbitration Committee Chairman Charlie Ho, and lawyer Dondi Gaston.

(By el Amigo/MNM)