Taekwondo: Geisler not being singled out in online-guesting issue, says official

It has now become a waiting game between two-time Olympian Donnie Geisler and the Philippine Taekwondo Association, the sport's national governing body, as they debate over the issue of national athletes appearing as guests on online shows.

Geisler filed a complaint with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on June 24, because he did not get any response or guidance on the protocols in holding free online training classes.

However, PTA secretary-general Rocky Samson explained that the said protocols are something that has been there ever since. This is concerning inviting national team members to guest in events where there are protocols in place.

"The problem is really simple if you look at it. We simply reminded Donnie that there are set protocols in place. There are set protocols for the national team and this is where it all started," Samson said.

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Samson stressed that Geisler is not being singled out.

"So hanggang ngayon, we are still waiting for his statement. We want to hear straight from him. This protocol, he is not being singled out. This goes for all of us, all PTA members. This is a standard rule," Samson said.

"It's just automatic for us that when you want to invite the national team (or someone from the national team), the ones inviting them should always ask for permission from the PTA," he said.

"So nu'ng nalaman ng PTA 'tong guesting-guesting, he was just reminded about it."

The PTA formed an ad-hoc committee last week to handle Geisler's complaints. The committee already sent an email to Geisler's camp last week to ask for Donnie's statement.

"We formed an ad-hoc committee to formalize everything. Its purpose is to handle the problem and the issue. We wrote to him, asking if he could give a statement. However, he deferred having already filed a complaint with the PCC," Samson explained.

He believes that this is an issue that can be resolved at their level by directly talking to the PTA first and clarifying matters.

"The first thing you do is directly talk to PTA and clear things out. It just so happened that what he is questioning is hindi talaga pwede." Samson said.

"Parang ang analogy lang namin is why are you asking the protocols of the committee when in the first place, we all know this. You have been there. It has been advised before your event. We reminded you and the national team."

The PTA secretary-general also shared that they were advised by Master Sung-Chon Hong to wait for Geisler to give a statement, until such time when they will be ready to answer.

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

When asked whether they would be open to holding a dialogue, Samson believes that it may not matter much.

It will be recalled that in an interview with Geisler's legal counsel, they are amenable to holding a dialogue, as long as it would not cover the complaints filed and that it would be held in neutral ground.

“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,” Atty. Jay Sangalang previously said.

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