5 juin 2005

Teammate has mixed opinions on Miranda

LONDON, Ont. � The veteran diver slated to compete for Canada with Arturo Miranda in the 3-metre synchro event at next month's World Aquatic Championships in Montreal offered lukewarm support to his scandal-plagued partner yesterday.

Miranda is competing at the Canadian trials for the world championships this week while appealing a six-month suspension handed down in March by a Diving Canada disciplinary panel. He was censured for bringing "the sport of diving into disrepute" after a diver he has coached complained he had sex with her during the winter nationals in Calgary in March, 2004. She was 15 years old at the time. Miranda was 33.

Philippe Comtois, 28, of Laval, Que., who was named with Miranda as the 3-metre synchro tandem for the worlds earlier this week, teamed with Miranda yesterday to win the event at the trials.

"In one way, he deserves it," Comtois told La Presse of his teammate's predicament. "On another, it's a little bit late, it's more than a year (since the alleged incident occurred)."

Comtois was philosophical about the prospect of Miranda for the worlds.

"From one side, it's good the federation is taking the responsibility," he said. "On the other end, they pre-selected us so obviously they want us to compete at the world championships. If we don't do it, it would be sad for us and for Canada."

Mitch Geller, one of Diving Canada's top officials, is concerned the story about the Miranda controversy in yesterday's Star will distract the divers as they prepare for the worlds.

"I think common sense would dictate that when an article of that nature comes out that obviously has a lot of impact on him personally and the people that are close to him," said Geller.

Miranda declined to be interviewed by the Star, but spoke to CBC.

"I think it's very unfortunate that something like this is taking the shine off the national championships of diving." Miranda said. "I would love to say my story, but I have to respect from the beginning there is a confidentiality undertaking that the other side hasn't respected. I want to continue to respect this and after everything is done I want to be vindicated and everything will just be fine."

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