The Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (COPUR) ended a week under heavy scrutiny after two Senate public hearings, held Tuesday, September 29 and Thursday, October 1, where athletes, coaches and sports representatives raised concerns about selection processes, mechanisms to challenge decisions, and the administration of high-performance sport. The hearings are part of an investigation ordered through Senate Resolution 586, filed by independent senator Eliezer Molina Pérez.
The first day opened with a virtual appearance by Olympic medalist Jaime Espinal, followed by testimony from judoka Melissa Mojica, president of the Athletes Commission; fencer Carlos Padua; Katia Pérez, mother of a cyclist; coach Emanuel Martell; and representatives of the Skateboard and Athletics federations, among others. Rafael "Rafy" Santos Ortiz, president of the Youth, Recreation and Sports Commission, said the goal is to determine whether clear rules exist, whether they are applied consistently, and whether athletes have adequate mechanisms to assert their rights, without intervening in strictly sporting decisions.
On Thursday, COPUR responded. President Sara Rosario appeared with Miguel Laureano, undersecretary of the Department of Recreation and Sports, and pole vaulter Viviana Quintana. Rosario said certification criteria have existed since 2013, are discussed with the federations, and that the organization maintains oversight mechanisms and audits of the funds it receives.
She said COPUR is open to accountability and announced it will strengthen disclosure of selection criteria for future competitions. Quintana questioned her exclusion from the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games delegation; COPUR maintained she did not reach the 4.20-meter minimum mark or the alternative of placing among the region’s top four.