The deputy of the Left Bloc Joana Mortágua considers that the athletes’ complaints about the Portuguese Judo Federation “are too serious” and says that a hearing of the Secretary of State for Sport, João Paulo Correia, in the Assembly of the Republic.
“The complaints of the Olympic athletes about the Portuguese Judo Federation are too serious not to deserve clarification. The situation continues without any responsibility being assumed,” he wrote on Twitter.
The Olympic athletes’ complaints about the Portuguese Judo Federation are too serious not to warrant clarification. The situation continues without any responsibility being assumed. The appearance of the Secretary of State for Sport in the General Courts is justified. https://t.co/O8n1EhduRV
– Joana Mortágua ️ ️⚧️ (@JoanaMortagua) October 17, 2022
Telma Monteiro criticized, this Monday morning, the Portuguese Judo Federation. The Olympic medalist revealed that the federation led by Jorge Fernandes fired coach Ana Hormigo with an email, the day before the team traveled to compete in the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, qualifying for the Olympic Games.
“When they ask me how things are going with the federation… they tell me this: Tomorrow I am going to travel to the competition, my first time after knee surgery. Today, the federation has fired the coach Ana Hormigo, by email, the day before the team travels! Without the team or team knowing about it in advance. In the week of the Olympic qualifying competition,” the judoka reported on Instagram.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by ᴛᴇʟᴍᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛᴇɪʀᴏ (@telmamonteiro57)
For his part, in statements to the TSF, Jorge Fernandes refutes the accusations. The president of the Portuguese Judo Federation denies having fired the national coach Ana Hormigo, although he acknowledges that she “can no longer continue”.
The director explains that he asked the “lawyer of the federation to contact her [Ana Hormigo]”.
“Is it over there [Ana Hormigo] He will get in touch with the lawyer, I asked him to, so that we can both talk and reach an understanding”, he explains, reiterating the idea that “there are no conditions” for Hormigo to continue working in the federation. he wrote on social networks without ever having spoken with the federation he is not in a position to continue here, “says Jorge Fernandes.
In August, Ana Hormigo expressed her solidarity with an open letter signed by seven of the ten athletes from the Olympic sports project: Telma Monteiro, Bárbara Timo, Rochele Nunes, Patrícia Sampaio, Catarina Costa, Anri Egutidze and Rodrigo Lopes. The document contained criticism of the operation of the modality in Portugal and the denunciation of an “unsustainable and toxic climate” supposedly promoted by Jorge Fernandes.
Source: TSF
