The world’s third-best pole vaulter EJ Obiena announced in a Facebook post that he is pulling out of the Asian Indoor Athletic Championships in Kazakhstan due to financial and logistical issues.
The news comes just after Obiena snagged gold medals in Poland and France, marking a strong start to the 2023 indoor season.
However, Obiena faces what he described as a “two-fold” problem that bars him from competing in the upcoming championships, which will take place from Feb. 10 to 12.
“Dear supporters, I am truly heartbroken to share this news. I shall be unable to participate in the upcoming Asian Indoor Championships next week in Kazakhstan. I won’t be able to bring glory to my country. I am not injured or sick. I am physically and mentally ready to go. To compete. To fight for gold for The Philippines,” Obiena began his post.
“First, a pole vaulter without his poles is an ineffective pole vaulter. Despite huge efforts from everyone including [the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association] and [national athletics president Terry] Capistrano, we are simply unable to get my poles to Astana, Kazakhstan,” he said.
Obiena added that none of the airlines with routes to Astana are able to bring his poles, adding that other pole vaulters from Asia suffer from the same problem.
“Most Asian pole vaulters I know have pulled out for the same reason. It’s a sad state when the best vaulters in Asia are excluded from competing in the biggest indoor championships in Asia,” he lamented.
The athlete also detailed the financial woes his team is facing, adding that members of his team have already threatened to leave after not being paid for over a year.
“Despite all the issues of the past supposedly being resolved, my team has not been paid now in over a year. Payments are caught up in red tape. Unfortunately, some of my team are now threatening to leave Team Obiena. I cannot blame them. Who could work free for over a year? They have families to support and bills to pay. They can’t keep working for free. I can only hope this resolves soon. I am losing a team I desperately need. Nobody wins alone. It’s always been a team effort,” he explained.
Obiena was embroiled in a public feud with former PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico over liquidation documents. The athlete was cleared by the Commission on Audit and supposedly reached an agreement with the field federation as mediated by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Yet based on Obiena’s latest post, it seems that this previous issue has not been fully resolved.
Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann said he already reached out to Obiena hours after the athlete’s social media post.
He vowed that the agency will help fast-track resolutions to the athlete’s concerns in the quickest way possible.
