A Supreme Court judge has ordered Talaiasi Nau, head of a rival body to stop using Tonga Body Building Federation (TBBF) name in the body building competition on 04 July 2024.
Justice Langi made the order after an urgent injunction was filed with the supporting affidavit of Tofavaha Tuifua and Piano Fatai.
The court also made the following orders against Nau:
“The respondent is restrained from using TBBF name in any future body building activities.
“The Respondent is restrained from using TBBF social media name and account
“The Respondent shall forthwith issue a public notice that the bodybuilding competition on 04 July 2024 is not affiliated with TBBF.
“Any other future other to hear the full matters concerning the assets of the Applicant held by thew Respondent to be referred to in the Writ of Summons and statement of claims”.
The decision came as part of a years-long dispute between the two rival bodybuilding federations.
As Kaniva News reported recently, the two groups both call themselves the Tonga Body Building Federation and fight over control of the national sports body.
The group led by Nau is recognised by the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC).
The other group, which has threatened legal action, is led by Tofavaha Tuifua and is recognised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Sports. In the past Tuifua’s group has received significant government funding.
The TBBF was established in 2009, with Tuifua as first president. After he left to live in Australia, a new board was elected and continued to run as the TBBF. Secretary of the TASANOC-recognised TBBF board Mary Nau told Matangi Tonga in 2019 that Tofavaha had returned to Tonga after 10 years away and wanted to use the name of the TBBF.
The Supreme Court ruled this belonged to Nau. However, in 2022, Onedera demanded pay $15,400 to settle the long running legal dispute.
In 2016 the South Pacific BodyBuilding Federation voted to take disciplinary action against Nau for bringing the SPBBF into disrepute.
