Thailand may have won three gold medals at the just concluded World Petanque Championships, but any hopes of a gold rush at the SEA Games at home has been dashed.
The Federation International de Petanque et Jeu Provencal (FIPJP) and World Petanque Bowls Federation (WPBF) have suspended Thailand from hosting any international competition. This means that the event cannot be hosted during the SEA Games in December.
At the world championships in Rome, Thailand won gold medals through Sarawut Sriboonpeng-Ratchata Khamdee (men’s doubles), Kantras Chuchuay (women’s singles) and Chuhuay-Nantawan Fueangsanit (women’s doubles). They also won a bronze in the mixed doubles through Sarawut-Nantawan.
The decision by the governing world bodies follows the concern over the election of the president of the Petanque Association of Thailand (PAT).
PAT had elected Wing Commander Sutthiroj Praphanot, who is facing allegations of corruption, election fraud and sexual harassment. While he had been banned for life by the international body, Praphanphat remains as PAT president.
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) also continues to recognize his leadership, earning the ire of the world bodies.
Any international teams participating in any petanque tournaments in Thailand, including at the SEA Games would face an automatic two-year ban. This would include participation at major internationals including the World Games, Asian Games and the Asian Masters Games.
FIPJBP president Claude Azema, in a letter to Thailand had made it clear that the continued leadership of Praphanot was not tenable and had caused serious damage to the sports and athletes.
However, FIPJP would still allow the special central committee to send athletes to send Thai athletes to any international events outside of Thailand. The Central Committee was formed by the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT) to oversee participation matters and does not fall under the PAT jurisdiction.
The NOCT had originally worked out a compromise with the world body that the central committee would oversee PAT administration and also conduct the petanque event at the SEA Games.
But the refusal of PAT as well as SAT to adhere to the world bodies directives has complicated matters.
