The Philippine Olympic Committee on Wednesday formalized the suspension of the Philippine Tennis Association.
The POC General Assembly ratified its Executive Board’s decision to suspend the Philta for 90 days following its failure to heed the International Tennis Federation’s instruction to amend its charter and hold encompassing election of officers.
Forty-two out of the 55 voting members of the POC ratified Philta’s suspension—more than a required two-thirds vote.POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino initially deferred putting on the floor its proposal to also suspend the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship and because of the Lenten season, I deferred the move to suspend the PATAFA as decided by the POC Executive Board,” Tolentino said. “And because of the unfinished mediation procedure between the PATAFA and EJ [Ernest John] Obiena, a vote to suspend the athletics federation wasn’t offered to the GA.”
The looming suspension, however, is now moot and academic as the athletics’ federation and Obiena later on peacefully ended their four-month dispute, through the mediation of the Philippine Sports Commission.
“It is with much joy that we announce that both parties have agreed to a settlement and the proceedings ended successfully. The Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association, the sole governing body of athletics as recognized by the World Athletics, has agreed to endorse Mr. EJ Obiena to the 2022 Southeast Asian Games and the 2022 World Outdoor Athletics,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez in a statement.