World body slams door on RP riders

VIENTIANE – The international cycling federation yesterday rejected with finality an appeal by the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council to allow the Filipinos to compete in the cycling competitions – a move expected to reverberate beyond the 25th Southeast Asian Games here.

In a letter to Lao Olympic Committee vice-president Kasem Inthara, UCI president Pat McQuaid reiterated the UCI stand recognizing the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) and its president, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

The letter effectively ruled out the participation of the 13 Filipino cyclists who were not granted valid licenses to compete in the SEA Games. The cycling competitions start today with the men’s downhill event outside the city limits.

Only Maritess Bitbit, the 2007 SEAG gold medalist, will be allowed to participate since she carries a license issued by the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).

 McQuaid said Tolentino is the legitimate president of the cycling federation in the Philippines and has the sole authority to issue licenses to Filipino riders competing in UCI-sanctioned tournaments like the SEA Games.

“In the present situation, PhilCycling (Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines) is recognized to be the national federation in the Philippines,” McQuaid said. “Consequently, the UCI does not recognize the riders who hold another license than the one delivered by PhilCycling.”

The 13 cyclists were all sent here by the Philippine Olympic Committee, with POC sports and rules chairman Go Teng Kok standing as the team’s chief sponsor. They went through a selection process under Mikee Romero, who spent P5 million of his personal funds for the national trials, uniforms and preparations of the team for the SEA Games.

“I did it for the love of the sport and for my country,” said Romero.

However, reports have circulated around that the SEA Games may yet allow the team to compete without UCI sanction. Such a defiance, however, would worsen the situation as the cyclists, including their leaders, could face the risk of getting stiffer sanctions from the UCI, such as a ban from competing or holding international competitions.

Go said everything is set and the 13 Filipino riders will compete with or without UCI licenses.

Go was meeting with the 11-man council as of press time.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), however, blasted the POC’s decision to send the team despite knowing that the national riders would be barred from competing by the world-governing federation.

The cycling group was not part of the 153 athletes funded by the PSC.

“This was a lost opportunity for the country,” PSC chairman Harry Angping said. (See related story on this page).

Not in the team are former champions Victor Espiritu and Warren Davadilla.

“Whenever the Philippines sends its contingent abroad, we only send one team that is capable of representing and delivering gold medals for flag and country,” Angping added.

Aside from Bitbit, the squad is composed of Alfie Catalan, Irish Valenzuela, Jan Paul Morales, Eusebio Quinones, Frederick Feliciano, March Aleonar, Joey Barba, Alvin Benosa, Scott Remie, Anna Marissa Remigio, Julius Bonzo and Ronald Gorantes.