Teregold: Obiena on bid to compete: What do I still need to do?

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 I still need to do? I don’t know how far or how humble I need to be in order to get an endorsement to jump for my Philippines?” Obiena told BusinessMirror by I nternet call on Thursday.

The participation confirmation deadline for the March 18 to 20 in Belgrade is on Monday.

Obiena is trying to become the first-ever full-bred Filipino to qualify in the world indoors, according to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) Training director Renato Unso.

Ironically, it was Unso who signed a letter on behalf of the Patafa board denying Obiena’s request for endorsement.

The POC slammed the Patafa for denying Obiena’s request.

“Again, how many more gold medals or what more achievements does EJ need to get Patafa’s endorsement?” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino asked. “He’s the best in Asia and his numbers have been rising consistently, but still he’s bound to be denied more medals for the country.”

Obiena’s rift with the Patafa has reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport after association president Philip Ella Juico filed a complaint against the Tokyo Olympian and the POC last February 11.

The rift revolves around Obiena’s liquidation of his coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries that evolved into the athlete’s accusation of harassment by his national sports association.

Obiena, 26, qualified for the world indoors with his 5.81-meter gold medal-clinching leaps at the Orlen Cup last February 13 and Orlen Copernicus Cup last February 23 both in Poland.

“My 5.81m jump in my two title wins in the Orlen Cup [February 13] and the Orlen Copernicus Cup [February 23] both in Poland officially made the standard required for the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championship and 2022 World Athletics Championship,” Obiena said in his letter to Patafa he addressed to the federation’s board. “It is also better than my 2019 SEA Games gold medal standard and the 2018 Asian Games Gold medal standard.”

The Patafa denied his request citing the non-completion of mediation procedures.

“By authority of the Patafa Board of Trustees, please be informed that the Patafa Board of Trustees will not act on your letter…pending completion of the mediation process being conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission,” the Patafa said in a letter signed by Unso.

Obiena’s letter dated February 24 also sought for his endorsements for the 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).

“I didn’t ask for reinstatement, just endorsement for me to represent the flag,” Obiena said. “So what if mediation doesn’t end or start on Monday? A late entry is also not allowed in the world championships.”

“I still hope they will endorse me, this is not about me anymore,” the Tokyo Olympian said. “It’s about our country’s national interest. It’s not only my opportunity but the opportunity to bring home a medal. I hope they will do the right thing not for me but for the Philippines.”