A major error in the registration process for the National Championship Criterium on September 24 at the Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair, has left cyclist Emile Abraham uncertain of the title he won, after a Guardian report on Sunday, that he will be stripped.
On Monday, Abraham made it clear- "I have never registered as a Master's rider either in T&T or in the United States, and for the national championship here, I was mistakenly registered as a master's rider without me requesting, or without anyone asking anything. I do not know what happened."
The experienced T&T rider who has won numerous races and titles for T&T faces being stripped of the national championship criterium title for competing in the Elite Division, as well as racing for two countries, which it is believed, constitutes a violation of the UCI regulations.
Guardian's report revealed that a complaint was made by local club- Team DPS which pointed out the error and demanded that its rider Lorenzo Orosco, who finished second in the race, be handed the title. The club said Abraham took part at the US National Championship as a master in August but competed as an elite in T&T a month later.
To strengthen its claim, the club also quoted from the UCI regulations which state- "Participation in national championships shall be regulated by the respective National Federations. Only riders who hold the nationality of the country for the purposes of the present regulations may compete for the title of national champion and the relevant points. A rider cannot compete for the title of national champion and the relevant points for more than one country during the same season."
However, Abraham sought to clear the air by claiming that he has never registered as a master's rider. "In the United States I am registered as a category One rider, but because of my age (over 40), it made me eligible to compete in the master's category also. In the US it is different from here in T&T, where you cannot ride in two divisions. In the UCI however, my registration is Team TTO."
Abraham is expected to meet with the cycling federation today to sort out the issue, but he admitted that he was confused when he saw the report.
"I wouldn't mind being stripped if that's what Team DPS wants, but I am dumbfounded by the recent developments. It is not my fault, but I hope that the TTCF makes the right decision."
On Sunday the TTCF responded to the report by saying a decision on the issue was not reached, though a member of the Racing Committee said it was, and that the rider should be disqualified.
A high-ranking TTCF member who spoke under conditions of anonymity, said attempts are being made to reach out to the UCI for clarification before a decision can be made on this matter.
Abraham said he believes the matter may also be a personal attack on him by the Team DPS management team, as their rider Orosco has already agreed to join his team- Team Pharmaco, next year. "I have been conducting development work for the sport in T&T across the world, and Orosco was targeted by the club for development work, but the club's management does not like it," Abraham said.
In a T&TCF release on Sunday, "The Racing Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation wishes to respond to the recent publications regarding Emile Abraham being stripped of his National Criterium Championship title. The Racing Committee categorically denies that any such decision has been made and further advise that the matter is currently being reviewed."