World Aquatics takes over water polo betting probe

Updated with reaction from Aquatic Sports Association

The world governing body for aquatic sport, has told the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA) to refrain from taking any action in connection with the probe, as it will be joining in as a leading body that will look into the matter and take the necessary disciplinary sanctions.

Last month, Times of Malta revealed that a report filed by the Malta Gaming Authority identified six national team water polo players, various other club-connected individuals and a youth coach as having placed bets on Malta national team fixtures at the European Championship finals that were played in Belgrade last January.

The report indicated that there was prima facie evidence of betting by these individuals who are embedded within the sport.

World Aquatics and European Aquatics, which were the organisers of last January’s continental finals in Serbia, opened an investigation into the matter and have asked the Maltese Police Force to forward them all the evidence on the case.

A source close to the ASA said that back then World Aquatics took the decision after growing concerned about “weak” internal structures within the local body, but since then the ASA appointed an ad hoc Integrity Officer.

However, in reaction to the report, Aquatic Sports Association of Malta Integrity officer Dr Herman Mula denied these claims and said that the Maltese governing body were still actively involved in the investigation.

“The World Aquatics are indeed leading the investigation but it’s not true that the ASA has been taken out of the probe,” Dr Mula said.

“Since we were provided with the Malta Gaming Association report on the case, I immediately started preparations to investigate the players involved and contacted them to commence the questioning.

“The World Aquatics and the European Aquatics were following the case, and I contacted them and asked them if I should continue to lead the case domestically and issue the charges according to the integrity code of both the World Aquatics and the European Aquatics, or else they would take the leading role of the probe and issue the charges themselves.

“The World Aquatics’ response said that this investigation falls under their jurisdiction as well as the ASA and they wanted to start a tri-party joint investigation together with the European Aquatics being involved with us.

“The World Aquatics is leading the investigation, but in no time, we were omitted from it.”

Six players who formed part of the national team during the European Championship Finals in Belgrade in January were omitted from the national squad that participated in the men’s event earlier this month.

However, no official suspension has yet been issued to the extent that some players are still regularly playing the Winter League organised by the ASA.

Dr Mula said that the ASA didn’t issue any sanctions against the players being investigated as it’s the World Aquatics who has the jurisdiction to issue take such measures now since they took the lead into this.

“From our part, we have imposed a silent ban on these players as they were omitted from the squad for the World Cup Division II, which was held in Malta this month,” Dr Mula emphasised.