POC hopes to bring RP cyclists' case to IOC

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is planning to seek legal redress before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco said they are hoping to score a favorable decision that will overturn the International Cycling Union’s (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI) recognition of Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino’s leadership in the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).

It’s possible that the ongoing feud between the POC-recognized PhilCycling group of Mikee Romero and Tolentino’s Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-supported faction has caused them to lose three gold medals in the ongoing 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vientiane, Laos. The 13-member RP cycling team could have easily won a possible three gold medals but the Filipino riders’ failure to secure UCI accreditation doomed their bid. Cojuangco said that although the process could be lengthy and highly expensive, they are ready to exhaust all possible avenues to give justice to UCI’s refusal to issue the RP riders the license needed to compete in Laos. “We really have to do something or else the international federation will keep on pushing us around," Cojuangco said. “We couldn’t allow ourselves to be dictated upon by an international federation like the UCI. I’m not saying here that it’s the fault of the international federation, but what we feel here is that we’re right." Only 2007 SEA Games gold medalist Maritess Bitbit was allowed to compete in five events; cross country, downhill mountain bike, road race and individual time trial since she holds a UCI license and is recognized by both groups. But she decided to withdraw at the last minute upon Cojuangco’s advice that the 30-year-old pride of Cebu should stand by her teammates and sign a manifesto withdrawing her participation. Bitbit could have easily won the gold in three of her five events, including the road race she ruled in Thailand 2007. “We came here as a team and we will leave her as a team. In sports there is such a thing as teamwork and if we do not practice it we will get nowhere and it would be a betrayal of the support given by the (SEAG Federation) if our cyclists did not act as one," said Cojuangco. Barred from seeing action were former SEA Games gold medalist Joey Barba and Alfie Catlan along with Irish Valenzuela, Jan Paul Morales, Eusebio Quinones, Frederick Feliciano, March Aleonar, Alvin Benosa, Anna Marissa Remigio, Mark Julius Bonzo, Ronald Gorantes and Filipino-French recruit Scott Remie. The squad flies home via a chartered flight on Dec. 19 together with the rest of the 386-man Philippine contingent. Minus that controversy, Cojuangco said he remains upbeat about the Filipino athletes chances in the biennial meet. “Maganda ang spirit ng mga atleta natin. Their spirits are high. Unfortunately, we had this problem in cycling, but other than that, ok ang mga atleta natin. I hope we can continue to do well," said the former representative of Tarlac’s first district. The taekwondo jins already collected three gold medals after two days of competitions at the National University’s Booyoung Gymnasium with six more at stake on Friday and Saturday. Two-time Olympian (2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing) Toni Rivero, Alexander Briones and the women’s poomsae team of Rannie Ortega, Janice Lagman and Camille Alarilla accounted for the three gold medals. Miguel Molina added a late gold Thursday night after topping the men’s 400-m individual medley at the National Sports Complex pool. – GMANews.TV