The controversy that has plagued national judo in recent days may begin to end next Tuesday, when Jorge Fernandes, president of the Judo Federation, has a meeting with João Paulo Correia, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, and with José Manuel Constantino, leader of the Portuguese Olympic Committee. A meeting that, by will of the number 1 of the sport, will not have the seven athletes who signed an open letter making harsh criticism of the current situation.
Oppressive and discriminatory attitudes, toxic climate, intimidation: seven Olympic judoka denounce the Federation in an open letter
Parallel to this meeting, Jorge Fernandes admitted on Rádio Observador the possibility of opening disciplinary proceedings against those mentioned (Telma Monteiro, Catarina Costa, Bárbara Timo, Rochele Nunes, Patrícia Sampaio, Anzi Egutidze, all present at the last edition of the Olympic Games) . , and Rodrigo Lopes) and even go to court before what was transmitted by the seven athletes.
“I didn’t speak to the athletes and I won’t, that will have to be someone who takes care of them naturally. I tried to meet with the Secretary of State and the President of the Olympic Committee to solve this problem, of course we are interested in solving it, but from our side we athletes just have to comply with the rules, train and compete. There is nothing on our part, we will only maintain compliance with the rules that have always served until now (…) The meeting was also with the athletes but I with the athletes I refuse to meet, I don’t want to meet with the athletes at the moment. I see no interest in it, they have to comply and they have to retract the lies they published, ”he said.
Controversy in Judo. Federation admits taking athletes to court, Benfica says it is always a solution and not guilty
“Initially I said there would be no such possibility to go to court, but in the meantime there have been developments and now there is such a possibility. I won’t say I will. Not willingly, but I’m not the only one in charge, nor do I decide alone. The possibility of disciplinary procedures and place the athletes on the court not only because of some statements in the letter but also because they were recording a meeting they had with me without authorization, “added Jorge Fernandes.
“It’s a lie”: president of the Judo Federation responds to an open letter from athletes (and explains the Coca-Cola episode)
Given these statements, Telma Monteiro, the judoka with the greatest national curriculum in history (a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, four silvers among five world medals and six golds among 15 podiums achieved in 16 European appearances, among dozens of other victories in Grand Slams and international Grand Prix), left a comment on his official Instagram page where he expressed something that turned out to be an extension of the open letter. “More threats… Until when?”, said.
Benfica reacts to the open letter from seven Portuguese judokas: “All athletes needed a lot of courage”
The publication did not take long to have multiple reactions, one of them from Fernando Pimenta, a canoeing star also from Benfica who is the active national athlete with the largest resume with a total of 118 international medals. “Let’s all be afraid” commented with him emoticons of a clown It should be remembered that, at this stage, the athletes are in a period of preparation for the World Cup, which takes place in the first week of October, with some international competitions in between before a period of natural adaptation , considering that the competition will take place in Tashkent, in Uzbekistan.
Source: Observadora
