By U.S. News Agency / Asian

Cycling’s world governing body has slammed the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for its continued defiance of international sports organizations’ rulings.

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Pat McQuaid called the situation as unacceptable as the POC still denies membership to PhilCycling president Abraham Tolentino while supporting other claims to the leadership in local cycling.

“Such a long pending situation is not acceptable for the sporting activity in the Philippines,” said UCI president Pat McQuaid in a letter to the POC and Philcycling on March 1.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had noted in a letter to the POC in 2009 the rules on National Olympic Committee membership and affiliation with International Federations and it was cited again by McQuaid.

He said, “In order to put an end to this regrettable situation, cycling now calls for the IOC authority to support the position of our International Federation vis-a-vis the NOC, which is in line with the Olympic charter which stipulates the following: ‘…a national federation must exercise a specific, real and ongoing sports activity, be affiliated to an IF recognized by the IOC and be governed by and comply in all aspects wit both the Olympic Charter and the rules of its IF.”

“Hence, and in our view, the NOC shall recognize the national federation which is affiliated to the UCI,” said McQuiad, adding that the UCI is counting on the POC’s “cooperation to resolve this situation.”

“In spite of the letter set to (POC president) Mr. (Jose) Cojuangco and (POC secretary-general Steve) Hontiveros by the IOC and signed by Mr. Pere Miro (IOC officer for National Olympic Committee relations) on 20 July 2009, the problem is still pending. This situation lasts now since the election of PhilCycling held on 16 January 2009,” McQuaid said.