Palembang, Indonesia—Sa ikalawang sunod na pagkakataon, muling naging biktima ang Team Philippines ng kuwestiyonableng desisyon sa 26th Southeast Asian Games dito.
Ito ay matapos madiskuwalipika ang traditional dragon boat team sa kanilang sinalihang event.
Binawi ang nakuhang bronze medal ng koponan sa 1,000m 10-man crew race matapos malaman ng chief official na nagpalaro ng dalawang alternates mula sa 23-man team na isinumite bago ang SEAG.
Sinabi ni canoe/kayak federation secretary general Jonne Go na ang training pool ay siya nilang pinaghugutan ng 20-man at 10-man crew para sa iba’t ibang events.
“It is not like we are getting our athletes from outside sources. The organizing committee received and noted the line up we submitted,” sabi ni Go. “If there is any fault on our part, we decided the composition of the 10-man crew rather late but we sought permission of the boat control committee and we were allowed. We confirmed this decision twice but the Chief Official, who is from IDBF reversed that ruling.”
Ang International Dragon Boat Federation ay ang world federation ng dragon boat kung saan miyembro ang Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.
Nauna nang hindi pinayagan ng mga organizers sina Fil-Am BMX riders Alexis Manosa at Daniel Patrick Manabat na makalahok sa kanilang event.
Tinukoy ng mga organizers ang pagkakaroon nina Manosa at Manabat ng dalawang UCI license.
Ang Team Phl, nagtala ng oras na 4:41.08, ay tinalo ng Myanmar (4:38.88) at Indonesia (4:39.47) para sa gold at silver medal, ayon sa pagkakasunod, sa 2011 SEA Games
“We want our medal,” sabi ni Go.