Letter Sent for the Panamanian Judo Federation to the Marius Vizer, President of the IJF

Mr. President:

I am pleased to address you with the purpose to set forth the position of the Panamanian Federation of Judo (FPJ), making a call to avoid future conflict situations which shall not benefit Judo or its position as President of the FIJ before the eventuality to become force to resort, again, to TAS-CAS and to the Ethics Committee of the International Olympic Committee (COl), due to violation of FIJ By-Laws.

Last August 22, at the time of accrediting myself to participate in the FIJ Congress in Rotterdam, an attempt to avoid my participation was made generating a lawsuit that was resolved with the agreement of Dr. Georges Benelli upon deciding, the Vote Control Committee, that the undersigned had voting and voice right in the Congress in my capacity decision was respectful of TAS-CAS Decision of October 13, 2008 that established that FPJ that presided is the sole representative of the Panamanian Judo before the FIJ.

However, I must call your attention on the fact that, by means of another maneuver, an attempt to evade the mentioned decision of the COl's Sport Arbitration Court, to disown the legitimate mandate I have as President of FPJ, which inevitably would give raise to a new lawsuit before TAS-CAS and this, I believe, would not be convenient or beneficial to your image or that of FIJ.

I am aware that the Director Committee decided, one day after the Congress took place (August 24), "that in the case of Panama there are 2 federations that requested their adhesion and the FPJ presided by Mr. Ramon Alvarado accepted". That is a totally arbitrary decision inasmuch as there was a "case" in connection with Panama, it should have be submitted to the Congress immediately (article 8.12), particularly when FIJ advised TASCAS:

"it has complied with CAS Decision of October 13, 2008, whereby FIJ considered that Mr. Cesar Chu did not represent FPJ validly, which was validly represented by Mr. Vanegas."

If FIJ honors the award of TAS-CAS of October 13, 2008, it has to also honor the period of vigilance of the Board of Directors of FPJ that I chaired and that expires on 2010.

The indefensible recourse to pretend to use the change of legal domicile of FIJ to affiliate a federation different to the one legitimized byTAS-CAS, is unacceptable and would be very unpleasant to have to go, anew, before the pertinent instances to rectify this abuse, such as it occurred with the arbitrary actions committed against FPJ at the Congress in Rio de Janeiro.

On the last 31th of August, at the hearing held by TAS-CAS during the litigation UPJ vs. FIJ, I exposed and defended this situation so that this anti-statutory procedure be consigned. It can be so certified by the representatives of FIJ in said act.

On account of my respect for JUDO and the institution of the International Federation, I make an exhortation so that this decision of the Directive Committee of FIJ, that tends to evade the TAS CAS' judgment which explained our legitimacy to be part of FIJ, be revised and revoked, for two considerations: First, because juridically, it constitutes a clear extra-limitation of functions, violating the By-Laws, with merit for another successful complaint and, second, because politically it is a continuation of some persecuting order against us to satisfy foreign purposes to FIJ, which would place you in a difficult situation and without the real instigators being accounted for and remaining in the background.

Yours truly,

Licdo. Miguel R. Vanega
Presidente 2006 / 2010