Push Admin

Donnie Geisler, PH taekwondo body open to dialogue over online-class row

Article (news)

Brian Yalung

Donnie Geisler and the Philippine Taekwondo Association are willing to sit down and listen to what each side has to say about national athletes appearing in an online class put together by Geisler.The two-time Olympian filed a complaint with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) last June 24, a move he said he was constrained to do after sending several emails for guidance on protocols tied to his free online training classes.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/24/20/olympian-donnie-geisler-files-complaint-against-taekwondo-association">Olympian Donnie Geisler files complaint against taekwondo association</a></li></ul>The 41-year-old retired jin was reprimanded for guesting several national athletes but not asking permission and following protocol set by the PTA, the sport’s national governing body. In an interview, he mentioned how he did his part and even sent several emails. Geisler added that he tried to reach out several times to Master Sung-Chon Hong and PTA secretary-general Rocky Samson.Stephen Fernandez, a PTA official, meanwhile, said there are two sides to the story.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/23/20/taekwondo-officials-tell-national-jins-to-focus-on-training-not-online-teaching">Taekwondo: Officials tell national jins to focus on training, not online teaching</a></li></ul>Geisler said: “I’ve been doing my part to ask permission and to know the protocols that were being said. I even sent them several emails.” “Before filing, I tried to reach out several times to Master Hong and sir Rocky. Unfortunately after sending those emails, it fell on deaf ears.”Geisler’s camp acknowledged that they received the letter sent by the PTA on June 22 in which the Olympian was requested to submit his statement. He responded to that email, explaining that he would be deferring the matter since a complaint was already filed with the PCC.“Considering that a formal complaint has been filed, I will, in the meantime, defer the matter to the Honorable Commission for its adjudication without necessarily waiving my right to present and substantiate my claims. I wanted to attend BUT I will meet them in a neutral ground,&quot; read Geisler’s official response to the PTA letter. The response was sent on June 19 as confirmed by his legal counsel, Atty. Jay Sangalang.“I hope we can hear from them. My client has earnestly tried to reach out to them even before filing. But all of those emails, even the incidents that were included in his complaint, were not addressed. So he was actually constrained to file this complaint so that this would be once and for all addressed,” Sangalang said.Sangalang added that the PTA is aware of the matters that his client is raising.“They know what those matters are, because there were a series of emails by Donnie asking for guidance, asking for advice. There was no reply so he was actually helpless. Might as well decide on something that could answer all his sentiments,” he explained.Fernandez, another Olympian and the PTA chairman of the regional affairs committee, revealed he has not gotten hold of the complaints but acknowledged that the association is trying to reach out for a dialogue with Geisler.“I have yet to get a copy of his complaints. We are not sure on what he is exactly accusing on the PTA. Nevertheless, the PTA is still trying to reach out to him. The PTA is open to having a dialogue with him, because he is still one of us and is one of ours,” Fernandez said.As far as seeking permission, the 52-year-old said that the protocol of asking permission was always there ever since.For Fernandez, the issue right now is another trial that the PTA is facing. He is aware that the association will not be spared from criticism, something he believes people are free to do. However, he believes that there will always be two sides of a story which hopefully critics will consider looking into.“For me, there will always be two sides to a story. For the people criticizing the association, they are free to do that. Just like families, the PTA goes through trials. So I think this is one of them,” he said. After hearing both sides, it appears that a dialogue can somehow help thresh out the issue. Sangalang said that they are willing to do so, as long as they do not touch the issues filed by Geisler since it was already with the PCC.“He (Geisler) is willing, of course. Our doors are open. If they want dialogue, sure. But let us not touch issue on the case because that has already been filed,” Sangalang said.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Geisler and the Philippine Taekwondo Association are willing to sit down and listen to what each side has to say about national athletes appearing in an online class put together by Geisler.

Geisler and the Philippine Taekwondo Association are willing to sit down and listen to what each side has to say about national athletes appearing in an online class put together by Geisler.