PSI SINUSPINDE NG WORLD AQUATICS

SINUSPINDE ng World Aquatics (WA) ang Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) at ipinag-utos ang pagsasagawa ng eleksiyon para sa board of directors ng national federation sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Ang suspensiyon ay sanhi ng isang liham ng PSI sa world governing body ng swimming na nagsasabing kinikilala pa rin ito ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), ang ahensiya ng gobyerno na nagpopondo sa sports programs.

“While the World Aquatics Bureau noted that PSI denied all allegations, it considers the allegations against PSI to be proven and very serious,” pahayag ng WA sa isang memorandum na may petsang February 22, nilagdaan ng executive director nito na si Brent Nowicki at ipinadala sa PSI, POC at sa Asian Swimming Federation.

“World Aquatics has tried to resolve the many issues with PSI, but PSI and in particular, certain members of its Executive [the President and Members of the Board of Trustees] have ever since vigorously resisted to any assistance and help for the necessary reforms, showing no interest and no willingness to act in accordance with World Aquatics Constitution nor with the principles enshrined in such Constitution.”

Idinagdag na WA na: “Worse, by letter dated 4 February 2023, the Secretary General of PSI requested, by using wrong and misleading arguments, the intervention of the Philippine Sports Commission, a Philippine governmental body, into the affairs of PSI.”

Kasunod ng suspensiyon, hiniling ng WA sa POC na bumuo ng isang Electoral Committee na may mandatong magsagawa ng mga kaukulang hakbang para sa pagdaraos ng bagong eleksiyon.

“In accordance with the World Aquatics Constitution, the members of the Electoral Committee shall be confirmed by the World Aquatics Bureau, based upon recommendation from the Philippine NOC,” nakasaad pa sa memo ng WA.

Sa kabila ng suspensiyon, ang mga Filipino athlete ay hindi naman binabawalang lumahok sa WA competitions.

“During this transitory phase, the World Aquatics Bureau instructed the World Aquatics Office to ensure that Filipino athletes may continue to take part in World Aquatics competitions and events for which they are eligible and/or to benefit from World Aquatics Development Programs for which they meet the requirements, in compliance with framework conditions to be determined,” ayon sa IF.

Nauna nang ipinag-utos ng WA ang paglikha ng Stabilization Committee para pangasiwaan ang mga tungkulin ng PSI bilang isang national sports association.

Ang komite ay nagsagawa kamakailan ng trials sa New Clark City para sa national aquatics team sa Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games.