The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday forged a landmark partnership with Usana, an American-based supplements provider that has committed to support Filipino athletes for the next two years.
The deal was formally sealed yesterday with PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Aurora Gaston, USANA Vice-President for Philippines/Indonesia, at the Philsports in Pasig.
“We are happy that Usana is with us and investing with our athletes,” said Ramirez, who expects majority of the elite athletes to get the benefits of taking the product that is being used as well by other Olympic athletes.
Gaston guarantees that Usana is cleared for usage even by the WADA and is listed in the New York Stock Exchange.
Also present to endorse Usana yesterday were world champion billiards player Rubilen Amit and Grandmaster Eugene Torre, who described the agreement as “a winning move.”
Even Joseph Medina, the 2016 Rio Paralympics bronze medalist, was on hand to lend a hand although she admits that this will be he first time to try Usana.
National training director Marc Velasco said 300 Filipino athletes would be given these supplements for the next two years.
“Usana is an established global brand,” said Velasco.
The PSC’s decision to join hands with Usana is a clear manifestation of the administration’s directive to look after the welfare of the Filipino athlete.
“The President (Rodrigo Duterte) instructed me not only to feed the athletes but provide them with all their needs so they perform well,” said Ramirez.