INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Long jumper Maristela Torres and boxer Harry Tañamor were chosen by the athletes? commission to represent them in the Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly, contrary to critics of the two?s appointment.

?The athletes? commission elected these two athletes on their own and the POC had no hand in it,? said POC president Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco Jr. in the radio program ?Usapang POC? Thursday over dzSR Sports Radio.

Triathlon president Tom Carrasco had questioned the appointment of the two Beijing Olympics veterans, saying they don?t have the blessing of the Philippine Olympians Association.

The POA had wanted 2000 Sydney Olympians Benjie Tolentino of rowing and Toni Leviste of equestrian to represent the athletes in the general assembly.

Meanwhile, the POC has adopted a hands-off policy on the leadership row in cycling.

PhilCycling president Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino enjoys the recognition of the Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body in the sport, while Rolando Hiso was declared winner in an election supervised by the POC.

In another development, Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping said recognizing Carissa Coscolluela, and not Cojuangco, as equestrian head was the right thing to do.

Cojuangco had earlier said Angping?s recognition of Coscolluela was ?tainted with malice and government intervention.?

Angping stressed that ?there is IF (international federation) recognition (for Coscolluela).?