Is OCA displaying inconsistency in applying Asian Games residency rule?

The Olympic Council of Asia headed by Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait has demonstrated terrible inconsistency in denying naturalized player Andray Blatche the right to suit up for the Philippine national men’s basketball team in the forthcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

The Sheikh cited specific provisions in the rules of OCA, governing the eligibility of naturalized athletes which requires three years of residency which is a rule ignored by the International Olympic Committee as well as the international governing body for basketball, FIBA.

Both the IOC and FIBA have categorically stated that the three-year residency rules applies only to players who have represented another country in the past which Blatche has not done.

In its decision not to allow Blatche to play despite a formal letter from FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann who is also a member of the IOC, clearly stating that OCA had no basis to deny him a chance to represent the Philippines, OCA has shown inconsistency to say the least.

Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah conveniently forgets that OCA allowed Nigeria’s Femi Seun Ogunode, who moved to Qatar in October 2009, to compete in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China where he won gold medals in the 200 and 400 meters.

In fact, another athlete also from Nigeria, sprinter Samuel Francis who transferred to Qatar in 2007, began representing his new country in July that same year and won in several international athletics events including winning a gold medal in the Asian championships in Kobe, Japan.

Ethiopia’s Biusuma Shugi Gelassa transferred to Bahrain at the end of 2009 and represented Bahrain in the 2010 Asian Games in China and won a gold medal in the 10,000 meters.

Bahrain also recruited Tareq Mubarak Taher from Kenya in 2005 and after a lengthy investigation by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was found guilty in 2007 of cheating on his age so he could compete in the Youth Championships.

Yet he was allowed to compete in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar and won the gold medal in the Men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase.

Has the Sheikh forgotten that athletes from Kuwait participated in the 16th Asian Games in China in November 2010 under the Olympic flag because Kuwait’s Olympic Committee had been suspended?  How does one reconcile the fact that while the country was suspended its athletes were allowed to compete?

It is no secret that several athletes including middle and long distance runners from African countries like Nigeria and Kenya have moved to Middle East countries where they represent their new nations and receive substantial financial rewards and other perks.

SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas emphasized that the stand taken by the National Sports Association for basketball is not about winning the gold medal with Blatche “but about fighting for the country’s rights.”

Ever the consummate gentleman Mr. Manny Pangilinan, president of the SBP and the prime benefactor of our national basketball team and Philippine sports overall, made one last appeal to the OCA president in which he cited an earlier letter submitted to the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee by Parick Baumann, FIBA secretary general and a member of the IOC.

In his letter Baumann said “FIBA establishes the eligibility criteria for all basketball athletes worldwide for all competitions organized and sanctioned by FIBA” even as he assumed it was a case of “misunderstanding” of the relevant rules and principles.

Pangilinan said SBP “takes the clear and firm view that in the event of a ‘misunderstanding’ between the eligibility rules of FIBA and those of regional competitions, the International Federation rules take precedence.”

The SBP president pointed out that the OCA Constitution states as a fundamental provision that “To be eligible for participation in the OCA Games, a competitor must (1) Observe and abide by the rules of the IOC/OCA as per Olympic Charter” which means that OCA must recognize that the Olympic Charter prevails over OCA rules in respect of any eligibility requirement.” 

While earnestly appealing to the OCA president to allow Blatche and the Philippine National Team to “join the brotherhood of basketball in the Asian Games” Pangilinan expressed his sincere hope that this ‘misunderstanding’ would not lead the SBP to consider any alternative than to participate, considering that the Games are due to start in less than two weeks.”

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.