Patafa chief lifts Buenavista suspension

Track official Go Teng Kok and track star Eduardo Buenavista are back on the same page.

“Vertek (Buenavista) and I have talked. He said he was sorry,” said the president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association who immediately lifted the suspension he slapped on Buenavista.

The 28-year-old runner was suspended for joining a marathon last May without the permission of Patafa officials. The event, where he won the P10,000 prize, was not sanctioned by the association.

“Buenavista told me that it would never happen again. He said he was sorry for not coordinating with us. He said from now on, he will abide by the rules and regulations of Patafa,” Go said yesterday.

The track official said he immediately lifted the suspension of Buenavista, and was preparing a letter to be forwarded to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez.

As a Class A athlete, Buenavista receives a monthly allowance of P9,000 from the PSC. While on suspension, which almost lasted two months, he did not get a single centavo from the government agency.

“All the benefits he used to get will be given back to him once the PSC reinstates him into the list of national athletes. And now he can concentrate on the coming SEA Games,” said Go.

Buenavista topped the Milo Marathon Metro Manila elims last Sunday, covering the 42 km race in a record time of 2:18:53, which is good for the gold in the SEA Games set Dec. 6 to 16 in Thailand.

Thailand’s Booncho Janbacha won the marathon gold in the 2005 Manila SEA Games in 2:29:27, beating local bets Roy Vence and Allan Ballester. Buenavista was then competing in the 5,000 and 10,000 events.

“Now Vertek can concentrate on winning the gold in the SEA Games. He said that’s what he’s going to do,” said Go, who also hoped that what happened to Buenavista would serve as a lesson to others.