Tokyo Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena could only wish for better days amid his ongoing rift with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).
With less than a month before opening his indoor season in Karlsruhe, Germany, Obiena admitted that his training and preparation have been clouded with doubt and uncertainty since getting involved in a controversy with PATAFA which first stemmed from alleged falsified liquidation records.
"I'm just hoping that I would be given that chance and privilege to suit up for the Philippines," said Obiena in an interview with ANC's Headstart Thursday, Jan. 6. "I cannot really confirm if the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) can or cannot and I really cannot say what would happen to me now that I'm removed as long as PATAFA is involved."
"In 20 days, I need to open my indoor season which kind of brings into question right now as I said, I don't really know what's gonna happen," added the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.
A few days earlier, PATAFA has recommended the filing of estafa to Obiena and dropping him from the national pool "for violation of the Integrity Code of Conduct."
PATAFA also declared Obiena's consultant Jim Lafferty as persona non grata to the national sports association and also recommended the termination of Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov as coach.
The POC, for its part, vowed to support the No. 6 world ranked pole vaulter in his future tournaments with president Bambol Tolentino citing International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter which allows National Olympic Committee (NOCs) to endorse athletes to compete in major international competitions.
The Philippine Sports Commission, meanwhile, served as the mediator between the two parties and requested the Tokyo Olympian to "immediately finish his liquidation of accounts" and the PATAFA to reconsider its decision to remove Obiena from the national pool and "provide him an appeal mechanism."
The 26-year-old Obiena also took time to thank PSC for its action and said being "neutral" about the issue would be the "best thing I could ask for."
"I'm not asking for a special treatment. I'm very thankful. The main reason, I believe, that I'm getting able to stand up for my own and have this thing fight is because I have my results," said Obiena. "I've proved my performance but it doesn't exempt me in any case of any special arrangement."