Cebu-based runner Mary Joy Tabal will be allowed to join the national athletics team that will see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The Reinstatement Committee of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) reached this decision on Friday night.
Tabal, however, must comply with certain conditions, according to a recommendation by committee members which was led by PATAFA Director and Committee co-chair, former Congressman Rufus Rodriguez.
Among the conditions imposed on Tabal was that she “shall sign a written undertaking committing herself to abide by the PATAFA rules and regulations for all national athletes.”
The 27-year old Tabal left for Italy early this week to train for the SEA Games for the next two months.
She will have until June 14 to comply, just a day before the deadline of submission of entries to the SEA Games.
PATAFA secretary-general Reynato Unso also attended the deliberation, along with PATAFA Communications and Marketing Director Edward Kho.
Tabal, who had been scored for her alleged lack of respect for authority and discipline, has been told to train under a PATAFA-designated national coach.
The committee also recommended that she conduct her training in either of the two training camps, Baguio and Manila
The Rio Olympian must also “conduct herself at all times in a manner that demonstrates respect to fellow athletes, the PATAFA and its officials, and in compliance with the universal code of conduct, written or unwritten, expected of all elite athletes.”
Atty Nicanor Sering, PATAFA Executive Vice President, and national athletics coach Jojo Posadas are the other two members of the Committee who attended earlier meetings of the committee.
The committee also asked Tabal to officially withdraw a complaint letter sent to the Philippine Sports Commission addressed to executive director Carlo Abarquez.
Abarquez heads the PSC arbitration committee.
The committee said her letter that was sent on February 17, 2017 was baseless.
Tabal, who has yet to receive the PATAFA letter, said her sponsor Motorace Kawasaki sent her last Wednesday evening to Italy after spending two days in Cebu City.
She will there until August.
“Motorace Kawasaki is sending me back to Italy for two months, June 8 to August. Before SEAGames po,” said Tabal in an online interview.