A long-running saga in Mexican archery seems to have publicly erupted. It appears that elite Mexican archers have been in a dispute for some time with the Mexican federation, partly due to a lack of funds.

Aida Roman, Juan Rene Serrano, Mario Cardoso, and Linda Ochoa went to the recent Wroclaw World Cup unassisted and self-funded – with Ochoa raising eyebrows for apparently having to sell some of her bows to fund the recent European swing.

On their return from Poland, Alfredo Castillo (centre), who represents CONADE  – the Mexican government agency for Olympic sport – met with some of the athletes and publicly stated he would support them against the archery federation. He tweeted that he had reiterated to them that the funds were there to support them, not “intermediaries” and that he would ask World Archery to cease recognising the Mexican archery federation because of the current mismanagement. The body language in the picture (above), however, seemed to hint of what was to come.

Barely a couple of days later, he backtracked, saying this was not part of their high performance plan, that funds would be better spent ‘selectively’ and on training rather than foreign trips – noting Aida Roman’s individual position of eight in Poland and apparently ignoring the mixed team gold she picked up with Juan-Rene – not to mention at least one nailed on qualification for the final in Mexico City.  http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/deportes/futbol/2015/08/22/conade-detecta-anomalias-en-atletas-al-momento-de-competir

There have been a couple of recent articles in the Mexican media about the lack of financial support for archers (a TV piece I posted recently confirms this – the title translates as ‘Champion without support’): http://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/deportes/2015/aida-roman-campeona-sin-apoyo-1091525.html

Aida Roman then responded with a furious public broadside in PubliMetro in which she spoke out about Castillo’s reversal, saying she was treated by him as a “criminal”. On top of all this, it appears that either one or more of the senior Mexican archery coaches are contemplating quitting since the federation has not paid them in six months: http://www.publimetro.com.mx/publisport/acusan-a-alfredo-castillo-de-tratar-a-los-deportistas-como-delincuentes/mohA!H0eUGHEori94M/

Castillo then responded to the effect that the athletes may disagree with the governing bodies’ decisions, but those decisions are “supported scientifically by a group of experts” – whatever that means: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/deportes/mas-deportes/2015/08/29/castillo-evita-polemica-con-aida

Castillo appears not to be popular with the Mexican sports public – especially if this set of Facebook comments is anything to go by.  This one looks like it might run and run, and unfortunately, Mexican archery is probably going to be the loser.

Thanks very much to Dario Maciel for extensive assistance. Do you have any more information? Get in touch.