9 national sports associations file complaint with International Olympic Committee

MANILA, Philippines - Nine national sports associations (NSAs) yesterday filed a complaint against POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. and the POC Executive Board before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for grave violations of the Olympic Charter and abuse of the POC’s function to settle NSA disputes.

In a letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge dated May 11, 2009, the NSAs appealed for an investigation and redress under the rules of the Olympic Movement.

The nine signatories are former First Lady Amelita Ramos of badminton, Carissa Coscolluela of equestrian, Marcia Cristobal of dragon boat racing, Jane Ong of swimming, Edwin Pimentel of wushu, Abraham Tolentino of cycling, Yen Makabenta of billiards, Renato Bartolome of archery and Jetro Lozada of wrestling.

They cited three major offenses by the POC, including interfering in the electoral processes of NSAs by denying recognition to their duly elected boards and officers, misusing the POC’s function to arbitrate internal NSA disputes and maintaining a POC Executive Board that does not meet the charter requirement.

They pointed out that these irregularities are fundamental violations of the Olympic Charter, and they have occurred because “the POC General Assembly has been systematically by-passed or prevented from acting on these issues as the supreme authority of sports in our country.”

The complaint spelled out sport by sport the specific acts of interference by the POC leadership in their election processes, such as mandating outdated voters lists, so as to create boards and officers who would support Cojuangco in the POC presidency.