Sanction on Juico ratified

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ratified the decision of its executive board declaring Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico persona non-grata during its hybrid general assembly yesterday.

POC president Abraham Tolentino said 36 members, headed by athletes’ commission representative and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, voted in favor of the board decision.

There were five who opposed, three who abstained and 10 who did not vote.

“We’re just following the procedure and he (Juico) was given a chance to speak, explain his side,” said Tolentino.

This came less than a month after the executive board upheld the recommendation of the ethics committee to withdraw sanction from Juico for alleged harassment that Tokyo Olympics pole vaulter EJ Obiena had accused him of.

Tolentino said they could’ve withdrawn the decision had PATAFA and Obiena patched things up.

“Anytime Juico and EJ can reconcile and EJ withdraws his complain, the GA and executive board can revisit it,” said the congressman from Tagaytay.