FITA warns NAAP: Settle dispute or face suspension

MANILA, Philippines - FITA, or the International Archery Federation, warned the National Archery Association of the Philippines (NAAP) to settle its leadership dispute before July or face the possibility of being suspended from the world governing body of the sport.

The development came after FITA secretary-general Tom Dielen issued a directive to Asian Archery Federation secretary-general Urn Sung Ho to send a report on which is the legitimate group between the two feuding NAAP factions on July 1.

Otherwise, the FITA would be forced to suspend NAAP indefinitely.

“I have mandated the secretary-general of the AAF, Mr. Urn Sung Ho, to establish a report on who is the rightful representative of the Philippine archery association,” said Dielen in an official communiqué obtained by The STAR.

“Therefore I ask both parties to submit via e-mail all proper documentation to Mr. Urn Sung Ho, including a confirmation by the NOC (National Olympic Committee) who are the right representatives of the archery association,” he said.

Dielen stressed that if matter is not resolved by July 1, FITA will be forced to temporarily suspend the federation until further notice and the federation will not be allowed to participate in any event including the FITA Congress.

“However, we hope that this matter can be resolved prior to this,” he added.

Dielen said he learned that there were two different teams which represented the Philippines in the First Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok, Thailand last month.

On one hand, a group headed by Leonora Brawner and Terry Lim fielded in Earl Yap while a faction led by Kit Cojuangco sent Dondon Sombrio.

Neither group won a single medal.

The Philippine Olympic Committee recognizes the NAAP group of Brawner and Lim.

Brawner, in fact, voted in the last POC polls while the other group claimed to have the support of the majority of the national archers.

“Their group tried to block our participation in the said event. We continue to not recognize Brawner/Lim as legitimate officers of our association and we will continue our fight for the rule of law amidst our training for the rest of the tournaments this year,” said Cojuangco in e-mail message.        – Joey Villar