Bronze medalist Ernest John Obiena of Team Philippines poses during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Pole Vault on day ten of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines–New athletics chief Terry Capistrano has informed the Philippine Sports Commission that the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) will reinstate EJ Obiena to the national team.
Capistrano, in a media release sent to news offices Friday, said the Patafa has endorsed Obiena to be “given the same allowances previously extended to him based on his classification as a world class athlete.”
PSC office-in-charge Guillermo Iroy readily accepted the endorsement.
“I see no problem with the endorsement, EJ deserves to be back in the team,” Iroy said. “The agency is checking policies and records like the NSA quota or team ceiling for one and will be doing the necessary paperwork.”
If the Patafa has already used up its quota, a slot can be added, Iroy explained. And even if the additional slot will need an approval from the PSC board, the effectivity can be set retroactive to the submission of the endorsement.
Obiena recently broke the Asian record with his bronze-winning jump at the 2022 World Athletics Championship held in Oregon, USA, last July.
Patafa said that this “will further motivate our athlete to perform better in the coming international competitions” which includes the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.