LAUSANNE (SUI) – After having previously been suspended for a period of two years, the independent Ethics Panel has suspended Paolo Barelli for an additional year.
The Ethics Panel has investigated multiple allegations of wrongdoing against Mr. Barelli, the former President of the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), former FINA Bureau Member and former Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) President.
The allegations of wrongdoing under investigation by the Ethics Panel against Mr. Barelli included rule violations of the World Aquatics Code of Ethics stemming from:
- Claiming and accepting undue payments
- Failure to report a personal interest to the Ethics Panel
Following consideration of the allegations, the Ethics Panel unanimously decided to impose sanctions that ban Mr. Barelli from taking part in any aquatics-related activities under the auspices of World Aquatics or any of its members.
Mr. Barelli’s latest suspension will commence at the end of the suspension that Mr. Barelli is currently serving, which runs until 14 September 2024.
The Ethics Panel also ordered Mr. Barelli to repay all undue payments he received. The one-year ban imposed on Mr. Barelli shall remain in force even after its expiry (14 September 2025) if the undue payments have not been reimbursed in full to World Aquatics.
Note: This case was filed on 1 April 2022, which predates the inception of the Aquatics Integrity Unit. The decision is subject to appeal.