Judge Marco Albán Núñez of the Quitumbe Civil Unit has ruled against a protection action filed by the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE) to register its board, led by Jorge Delgado Panchana and Jefferson Pérez Quezada. The COE had sought this registration along with public apologies for the delay in the process. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture has not registered the elected board, claiming compliance with existing legal frameworks is at stake.

The legal basis for the Ministry's decision rests on Article 151 of the Sports Law, which states that directors may opt for immediate re-election only once. Although Jorge Delgado is seeking re-election as president for the first time, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Roberto Ibáñez, pointed out that Delgado has served in previous boards five times, raising questions about the legality of the re-election. This instance demonstrates the complexities and challenges faced by sports organizations in adhering to both internal governance structures and national laws.

The ruling, announced on March 5, has been appealed by the COE, which argues that it is essential for sports governance in Ecuador to resolve such disputes expeditiously. The outcome of this appeal could have significant repercussions on how sports organizations operate and maintain compliance with the law, influencing future elections and governance in Ecuadorian sports. The involvement of governmental bodies in sports administration highlights ongoing tensions regarding independence and regulatory compliance within the sector.