Tabal waiting for IAAF nod

MARATHON standout Mary Joy Tabal needs official confirmation from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to officially secure a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday said it has yet to receive a validation from both the Rio organizers and the IAAF, making the clamor for Tabal’s bid irrelevant at the moment.

“We have nothing to argue about right now because there’s no confirmation yet,” said POC first vice president Joey Romasanta, the country’s chef de mission to the Aug. 5 to 21 Games.

Tabal beat the Olympic qualifying time of 2 hours, 45 minutes by clocking 2:43.29 in the recent Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon.