POC warns athletes: Toe the line

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco is setting a higher expectation from the Filipino athletes not only in terms of performance but self-discipline.

“The time has come. It has to be imposed,” said Cojuangco, referring to the importance of self-discipline among the hundreds of athletes who make up the national pool.

Cojuangco raised his new expectations following the controversy involving some members of the Philippine karatedo team who were recently dropped from the lineup.

There have been many instances before as well where national athletes have taken matters into their own hands in questioning the leadership and policies of their respective sports associations.

Marna Pabillore, silver medalist in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and two-time gold medalist in the SEA Games, was among the karatekas who were stripped of their privileges as a national athlete.

Pabillore and a handful others boycotted the recent Philippine National Games in Bacolod in protest of the manner by which the Philippine Karatedo Federation ran the competitions.

But sports officials said boycotting the event was not the right thing to do, considering that everybody was informed that the PNG would serve as qualifiers for this year’s SEA Games in Indonesia.

Those who boycotted their matches were dropped from the national team and stripped of their monthly allowances and board and lodging privileges from the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Some of our athletes have either become complacent or a little cocky. And they seemed to have taken for granted the support being given to them,” said POC deputy sec-gen Mark Joseph.

“As a national athlete they must behave in some ethical way,” added Joseph along with the warning to other athletes that their past achievements do not serve as a license to disobey certain rules.

Raymund Lee, the PKF secretary-general, said self-discipline is a must in every athlete.

“It’s not all about skills. If you lack in discipline you are not qualified to be a national athlete. It’s not all about skills because that’s not enough,” he said.

Lee faced allegations from the ousted karatekas that he was getting back at them because during the recent leadership dispute within the PKF, they went against him.

Pabillore and her group sought the ouster of Lee and head coach David Lay, and even accused Lee of telling them they would be retained if they agreed a cut in their monthly allowances.

“That’s what they told us. That we will not be removed if we agree to give him half of our allowance,” said karateka Renato Manalo.

But Lee denied the accusations, saying it was just the karatekas’ way to discredit him.

“How can I do that when they receive their monthly allowances through the ATM,” said Lee.

Abac Cordero, Philippine Star