Asiad suspension on Cray, Beram?

Athletics superstars Eric Cray and Trentren Beram are in danger of losing their slots as the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) may strike them out of the Asian Games roster for infractions on rules and discipline.

Patafa president Philip Ella Juico was to talk to Cray and Beram late yesterday through a conference call, along with their parents, after they had been informed of the possible sanctions they would face for refusing to compete in the 2018 Korean Open last week.

The Filipino-American athletes claimed “miscommunication” between them and the Patafa caused them to miss the event.

But Juico said he is certain to have informed both Cray and Beram about the tournament weeks before it was held.

The Korean Open was crucial to their Asian Games campaign, Juico said, as it would have helped them improve on their standing in the region.

Together with Anfernee Lopena and Clinton Bautista, Cray and Beram were supposed to suit up in the men’s 4×100-meter relay to jack up their International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) ranking, which could give them a fighting chance to compete in that event in the Asian Games set in Jakarta on August 18 to September 2.

Cray and Beram sent two-paragraph replies to the Patafa secretary, expressing regret about their failure to compete due to miscommunication.

Juico said their reason is unacceptable.

“The Korean Open is a very crucial tournament because we needed to gain points for our IAAF ranking, which I would have used in justifying their participation in the 4×100 event of the Asian Games,” Juico told Daily Tribune yesterday.

“They didn’t even notify me. All they did was send our secretary a two-paragraph explanation, saying that it was a simple case of miscommunication. I think it was very unacceptable and unfair on the part of the federation.”

Cray and Beram are two of the country’s finest athletes.

A two-time Olympian, the Texas-based Cray ruled the men’s 400-meter hurdles event of the Southeast Asian Games thrice in four editions.

He also emerged with a silver medal in the men’s 60-meter run of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games last year in Turkmenistan.

Beram is also a golden boy for Philippine athletics after ruling the men’s 400-meter and 200-meter runs of the previous SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

They were in the country last month for the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championship in Ilagan City in Isabela before going back to the United States to prepare for the Korean Open.

From Incheon, they are supposed to land in Manila to join the Nationals in their training camp at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City starting June 23 before leaving for the Asian Games.

The Patafa, however, is not backing down from slapping the athletes with suspensions if they could not give proper explanations during the conference call.

Juico said he already reached out to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to inform them about the possibility of making last-minute changes in their lineup.

He said he doesn’t see any problem with that since the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee set the deadline for the submission of names on June 30.

“We will have a teleconference tonight (last night) with their respective parents,” said Juico.

“I want to know if they are still willing to play for the country because it seems that they’re no longer interested, based on their recent action. But whatever happens, they will receive an email from me to inform them of what disciplinary action we would make,” Juico said.

There have been athletes dropped by the Patafa before.

In the past, Ryan Bigyan, Archand Christian Bagsit and Joan Caido, three of the four members of the vaunted men’s 4×400-meter relay team that won the silver medal in the 28th SEA Games in Singapore were slapped with disciplinary sanction due to insubordination.

SEA Games gold medalist Christopher Ulboc was also dropped from the team while Olympian Mary Joy Tabal also nearly lost her spot a couple of years ago for committing infractions.

Juico said the Patafa treats all athletes with fairness and equality.

“We treat all athletes equally. So, even if you’re a SEA Games or Asian Games gold medalist or even an Olympian, if you don’t follow the rules, you have to face the consequence,” said Juico. “There are no sacred cows in Patafa.”