Last Thursday, July 13, 2023, a fully credible source gave me information about the suspension of five federations for alleged violation of several articles, different laws, among other things.
The five federations are: Fencing, Pentathlon, Surfing, Shooting and Badminton; I must confess that from my perspective the only federation that was doing well and that was harmed was poor Luis Ciprián’s Fencing.
The Badminton federation carried out its process, its associates agreed and for the love of that sport the problems were solved.
Various efforts have been made with Fencing, but everyone is pulling to their side and the process remains in limbo; With Pentathlon, this Sunday the electoral tournament was held and Kenny Núñez emerged with the victory.
Nothing is known about Surfing and Shooting; The Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) has been trying to resolve the problems of these federations for almost three years and until this Sunday nothing has happened. Between commissions and negotiations, these federations and their athletes are trying to survive, but to no avail.
The work of the commissions and the COD itself has been ineffective in that stretch. The Olympic Committee could not do what FIFA did with Fedofútbol and the commission that was led by Manuel Luna. After that process, that federation has two normal mandates and everything is in peace.
Sometimes it is will and the desire for sport to be above interests, because I know that there are many interests in 2026, at least two of the COD executive have presidential aspirations, president Gary Bautista and secretary Luis Chanlatte.
Once again the COD appointed new commissions to continue dealing with the suspended federations.
Is it so difficult to reach an agreement between people who intend to move forward with these federations?
There are people here who can solve these problems…but when there are interests involved it is complicated.
What will happen to Pentathlon now that it has a new president? Will the commission that brought the COD to Kenny respect?
I have a lot of respect for the COD directors, there are many valuable people, even the arrival of Rubén Tejeda has been very important for rapprochement with the media, but this board that began in 2022, and that everyone knows how they won the elections, has had more shadows than lights. Even an executive that almost faded away because six members resigned, although two later backed down, that leaves a lot to be desired.
