Rio wannabe Tabal accepts Patafa rules

MARATHONER Mary Joy Tabal finally sat down with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) Monday to iron out the kinks regarding her possible stint in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

After the meeting that took almost three hours, Tabal said she is ready to comply with the Patafa’s requirements for her reinstatement to the national team, including going through a mandatory drug testing and training under national coach Rene Herrera.

“There are rules and regulations that I must follow and I see no problem with them,” said Tabal, who came to the Patafa office at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with her benefactors, brothers Chipi and Jonel Borromeo of Cebu-based Motor Ace.

Patafa president Philip Ella Juico said the association would decide on her request for reinstatement tomorrow at the earliest.

The 26-year-old Cebuana should be a member of the national team and endorsed by the Patafa to the Philippine Olympic Committee to be able to compete in the Rio Games, set Aug. 5 to 21.

“We discussed the direction which Tabal wishes to take with respect to her future as a national athlete, bearing in mind the short term, the forthcoming Rio Olympics, and the medium and long terms, after the Rio Olympics,” said Juico, who was accompanied by secretary general Renato Unso and marketing officer Edward Kho during the discussion.

“Tabal has agreed to comply with all the rules and regulations, both existing and still to be promulgated, although certain matters remain to be discussed with regard to where she will train and who her coach shall be,” added the former Philippine Sports Commission Chair.

Tabal clocked 2 hours, 43 minutes and 29 seconds in the recent Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon last month, eclipsing the Olympic qualifying time of 2:45.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has yet to confirm the status of Tabal for the Rio Games, with the world track and field body set to announce the names of all Olympic qualifiers on July 11.