PATU Removes Dennis Berdugo from His Position
The Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) officially announced the removal of Dennis Berdugo as Sport Director on September 23, 2025. The decision comes after his actions during the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games sparked strong controversy, and following the publication of prior complaints that had shadowed him for years. In his place, the organization appointed Master Santiago Escutia Martínez, in an effort to restore credibility and transparency within the technical area.
The removal of the Sport Director follows the scandal at the Junior Pan American Games and the resurfacing of longstanding complaints
The Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) officially announced the removal of Dennis Berdugo as Sport Director on September 23, 2025. The decision comes after his actions during the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games sparked strong controversy, and following the publication of prior complaints that had shadowed him for years. In his place, the organization appointed Master Santiago Escutia Martínez, in an effort to restore credibility and transparency within the technical area.
From Rezende’s Complaint to the Asunción Games
Although Berdugo’s name recently resurfaced due to the incidents in Asunción, the first accusations against him are not new. In 2022, Brazilian Olympic referee Marcelo Rezende filed a formal complaint with PATU, pointing to Berdugo for conflicts of interest and manipulation at official events. Among the allegations were: changing competition areas to favor his daughter, removing coaches without following the chain of command, and even altering the use of the electronic scoring system (PSS) in matches involving athletes connected to his academies.
Rezende emphasized that the complaint was not isolated. Several national federations also filed formal protests, giving the accusations institutional weight. As a result, Berdugo was first removed from his role as Poomsae Coordinator of PATU, after repeated problems and complaints, but he continued to hold influential positions within the organization, particularly as Sport Director and a member of the Executive Council.
The Breaking Point: Asunción 2025
Three years later, at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, many of the same questionable behaviors described by Rezende appeared to repeat themselves. MASTKD documented inconsistent refereeing decisions, discretionary application of technical criteria, and suspicions of partiality in key matches. These observations triggered alarm among federations, coaches, and referees, who once again questioned Berdugo’s presence in such a sensitive position.
The situation became untenable. The irregularities seen in Asunción confirmed that the 2022 warnings had not been addressed and that the risks of keeping Berdugo within the structure were real.
An Inevitable Removal
The PATU letter, signed by its president Juan Manuel López Delgado, made official what had already become common knowledge in the Taekwondo community: the need to end an era marked by suspicion. By appointing Santiago Escutia as the new Sport Director, PATU sent a clear message both internally and externally: conflicts of interest and questionable decisions have no place in continental sports governance.
The challenge now will be to rebuild trust in the organization, ensure technical criteria are applied consistently, and guarantee that the sport develops within a framework of integrity. The removal of Berdugo not only closes a chapter but also represents an opportunity for a fresh start for PATU.
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