TABAL (CONTRIBUTED)
The wait continues for Mary Joy Tabal. But this time, a light can be seen glimmering at the end of the dark tunnel.
Tabal and her Cebuano benefactors had a “fruitful” meeting with top officials of the Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (Patafa) yesterday in Manila. The latter even prepared a surprise for the Cebuana long-distance phenom in the form of an unannounced drug test.
The unannounced out-of-competition drug/doping test is in accordance with the rules of the IOC, POC, IAAF and Patafa and is now the main reason for the protracted wait which could run to 10 more days.
The result of the test, will have a huge bearing on Tabal’s bid to be reinstated to the National Team and compete in the Rio Olympics this August.
Tabal and her ever-supportive corporate backer Motorace Philippines led by President Jonel Borromeo and his brother Chipi, met with Patafa chief Philip Ella Juico yesterday to discuss her reinstatement. Patafa Secretary General Renato Unso and Marketing head Edward Kho also attended the meeting.
PSC Sports Science Center headed by Dr. Alex Pineda conducted the drug testing procedure, the results of which will be out in 10 days.
According to a Motorace statement, Tabal has agreed to comply with all Patafa rules and regulations, both existing and still to be promulgated.
“Tabal has agreed to comply with all Patafa rules and regulations, both existing and still to be promulgated. Although certain matters remain to be discussed with regard to where she will train and who her coach shall be,” the statement said. “We will process all that we took up during what was a fruitful discussion and will need a few days to promulgate our final position on her reinstatement.”
The meeting also discussed Tabal’s future under Patafa including long-tern and mid-term plans with emphasis on her Olympic stint where Tabal made the grade in women’s marathon.
Borromeo, meanwhile, expressed confidence that Tabal, the country’s undisputed Marathon Queen, will be eventually reinstated to the National Team based on discussions during the meeting.
“Patafa will deliberate within the week. The meeting went well and discussion focused on what to do leading up to Rio. That is assuming she gets reinstated. My feeling is good because I saw us moving forward on discussion,” Borromeo said.
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