Juico named to major int’l athletics panel

NATIONAL athletics chief Dr. Philip Ella Juico has been appointed as one of the 10 members of the powerful Values Commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Juico’s appointment followed his election as vice president of the Asian Athletics Association in June last year in Wuhan, China.

“It’s an honor to be named to the commission,” said Juico, the president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.

The designation of Juico marks the first time a Filipino has occupied such an important position in the 160-country IAAF since 1973, when Patafa joined the federation.

Formed by IAAF president Sebastian Coe, the Values Commission joined nine other bodies in “assisting in the delivery of a fundamental program of change to the sport’s global administration.”

The commission, chaired by French athletics chief Bernard Amsalem with former multiple Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson as vice chair, will deal with “challenges to its integrity and reputation, including from betting, illegal betting, results fixing and national and age manipulation.”

Juico served as secretary of Agrarian Reform from 1987 to 1989 and chair of the Philippine Sports Commission from 1995 to 1998.

He was dean of the De La Salle University Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business from 2002 to 2008 and currently chairs volleyball’s Philippine Superliga. Steve Silva, Contributor