Granma slugger Alfredo Despaigne, an undisputed star of the Cuba team, from the previous has been playing with the Piratas de Campeche, for which he shows an overall .337 average (69 hits in 205 at-bats) with 13 homers and 38 RBIs in 51 games. According to ESPN.com, in an article written by well-known journalist Enrique Rojas, the league of that country has opened an investigation into the case after it was confirmed that the passport of the outfielder was made with data from two Dominican nationals and a fake ID. We offer our readers the official statements of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FBC by its Spanish acronym) and the Piratas de Campeche organization.
Note by the Cuban Baseball Federation (FBC)
Havana, May 15, 2014
In recent days, several media have echoed a report published on espn.com on a fraud directly related to the Cuban ballplayer Alfredo Despaigne , member of the Piratas de Campeche team that participates in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB ) .
According to the said website, Despaigne´s registration in the tournament was conducted using a fake passport of Dominican origin, which flagrantly violates the ethical principles of the Cuban Baseball Federation, an organization that has led and oversees the development of recruitment process of Cuban players in foreign leagues as part of the new remuneration policy for athletes and coaches.
The FCB clarifies that it has no responsibility with the presumed violation of the rules governing the process of registration of players in the Mexican League. This was recognized in the note released on May 15 by the team management of the Piratas de Campeche, which states in its second paragraph that “Cuba Sports Institutions, especially the Baseball Federation are absolutely unrelated to the facts that media generated in the Dominican Republic and have been published in relation with the Cuban player.”
The statement released by the Mexican team also states that “The Piratas de Campeche Club shall initiate a thorough investigation of the facts spread by the media and will press charges in case there is an alleged commission of an offense of forgery against the responsible person or persons.”
The note adds that the club “will respect the decisions issued in due course by the Mexican League on the facts” and that the Cuban player “will continue defending the jersey of the Piratas de Campeche as he has done since joining the current season. “
The FCB will closely monitor the development and results of the research conducted on the subject and will inform on any decision taken on this regard.
Statement by the Board of Directors of the Piratas de Campeche organization
San Francisco de Campeche, May 15 2014
1.- The Piratas de Campeche Club declares is oblivious to facts attributable by ambiguous statements by authorities in the Dominican Republic published in relation to the unlawful acts of a passport issued in that country for baseball player who plays for our team, Alfredo Despaigne.
2. -” Cuban Sports Institutions, especially the Baseball Federation are absolutely unrelated to the facts that media generated in the Dominican Republic and have been published in relation with the Cuban player.”
3.- “The Piratas de Campeche Club shall initiate a thorough investigation of the facts spread by the media and will press charges in case there is an alleged commission of an offense of forgery against the responsible person or persons.”
. 4 – Notes published in the media are the sole responsibility of the correspondents and their sources and in this case are of Dominican origin.
. 5 The Piratas de Campeche Club has not violated any Mexican law to register its players from other countries.
. 6 – The Piratas de Campeche Club will respect the decisions issued in due course the Mexican League on the facts that are broadcast on the case.
7.- Cuban ball player Alfredo Despaigne will continue defending the jersey of the Piratas de Campeche as he has done since joining the current season. “
Board of Directors of the Piratas de Campeche organization
Communiqué issued by the Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican Baseball League called for this Thursday a press conference to officially report on the status of the player Alfredo Despaigne, of the Piratas de Campeche Club.
In the face of the flood of information from national and international media on the alleged illegality of the passport of the player, that Piratas de Campeche Club presented to the LMB, this one has requested through its lawyers, to the diplomatic representatives of the Dominican Republic in Mexico, to proceed to investigate this situation to determine if the document is illegal.
The LMB is certain that it cannot get an answer, for not being a Mexican official institution and not being able to make a formal diplomatic request to the Government of the Dominican Republic.
If necessary, with proper guidance from our lawyers and with the collaboration of the Piratas de Campeche club, the LMB will notify the Attorney General’s Office and the National Migration Institute, just to let them know the facts that could constitute an offense.
As a precautionary measure and pending official notification from the Dominican authorities, the LMB proceeds to temporarily suspend the player Alfredo Despaigne.
