Former coach says axe FINA

ONE of Australia’s best and most experienced Olympic coaches has called on the global swimming community to rise up and overthrow the sport’s international governing body, FINA, and its long-time executive director Cornel Marculescu before the Tokyo Olympics.

“Time has run out for any consultation or compromise,” said Sweetenham, who was four-times Australian head Olympic swimming team coach and also boss of the British Olympic swim team in 2004 in Athens. “FINA must be replaced immediately and prior to the Olympics.

“National organisations, led by their individual presidents, must show and display responsible character and leadership in forcing this issue. It cannot and should not occur again where athletes are betrayed by this organisation [FINA]. Individual national sporting bodies must honour the athletes and coaches they represent and remove any prostitution or hidden quid pro quo beneficial trade-offs.

“It is time for justice and it must be taken as it will not be given.”

Sweetenham’s powerful stance stems from the continuous support given by Marculescu, the Romania ex-water polo player who has run FINA for the last 34 years, to Sun Yang, the Chinese swimming megastar who on Friday was banned for eight years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sun has indicated that he will appeal the decision to the Swiss Federal Court.

Though Swimming Australia’s CEO Leigh Russell has indicated she intends speaking to her international counterparts in the coming days and weeks, it is almost certain Sweetenham’s call-to-arms will go unheeded.

The International Olympic Committee would refuse to accept any breakaway international swimming body, arguing that any change demanded by the global community would need to be worked out within the existing FINA structure. And that means Marculescu and FINA will continue to thumb their noses at their critics.