2023-11-09 10:43:06
New testimonies are being released regarding the controversy involving a group of Chilean athletes who participated in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and which ended with at least three athletes being harmed.
According to Poulette Cardoch and Berdine Castillo, they were dropped from the competition to give ownership to two reserves.
Asked about these serious complaints (which even point to a possible case of “racism” against Castillo) Juan Pablo Raveau, head of the federation’s speed area and Cardoch coach, explained that I informed coach Marcelo Gajardo on the 26th, the who entered the Villa, who were the starters. And even then he brought up the idea of taking Berdine out and putting Mackenna in.”
“I told him that that can’t be, that there is no justification for marks if Fernanda (Mackenna) never went below 55. He didn’t want to understand, but in the end he accepted. But at the last minute, on the day of the test, she made the change. All of them knew, except Poulette and Berdine. Violeta (Arnaiz) and Fernanda announced two days before to their friends that they were going to run. “Marcelo Gajardo acted in a cowardly manner,” added Raveau, in dialogue with The Mercury.
Asked about Gajardo’s attitude, the Poulette coach revealed that “he received pressure or influence, he let himself be influenced by Fernanda’s mother (Leslie Cooper, director of the COCh), probably because he has a high position. And in Poulette’s case, he told me that she had not run well in the mixed relay. But I told him ‘hey, but Violeta Arnaiz is your athlete and Poulette is mine, but you are removing number 3 to put number 6, it is not justified.’ When we undid the change, Poulette was already devastated, she had cried and she told me that she was not in a position to do so. We managed to make the change for Berdine, who arrived well after running the 800″.
What did they say to Berdine Castillo?
In relation to the accusation against Ximena Restrepo, mother of Martina Weil, Raveau announced that “she came screaming, insulting me, she scribbled at me. I don’t give that much importance to scribbling, but I do give it much importance to trying to get involved, to influence a technical decision.”
And regarding the complaint of “classism and racism” that Castillo denounced, the head of the speed area was clear: “Classism has always existed, because of the school they went to, that always happens. And racism, someone told me that she heard something like ‘this black woman…’”.
According to the aforementioned media, the athletes’ complaint will be formalized today in the Athletes Commission before the federation.
Read more:
– “Martina, Stephanie and Feña gave him the silent treatment”: national athlete targets Berdine Castillo’s teammates
– “Racism, classism, elitism”: Scandal in Chilean athletics due to serious complaint of discrimination in Santiago 2023
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