(ATR) Kuwait's attempts to oust its representative on the International Aquatics Federation, Husain Al Musallam, will not come to fruition.
FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu responded to the 13-page letter sent by the Kuwait Swimming Association calling for the removal of Al Musallam from the FINA Bureau, categorically rejecting all assertions made by KSA interim chairman Homoud Obaid Al Hajiri.
FINA responded to the letter on the July 17 deadline provided by the KSA, in which Marculescu outlined why Al Musallam remains eligible to stand for re-election as a FINA Bureau member and first vice president.
"The said document, which is misleading, includes a number of unacceptable accusations and allegations. You are hereby informed that after careful consideration of the above mentioned submission, the FINA Bureau has decided by majority vote to entirely reject the content of the said complaint and to reserve all of FINA’s rights," Marculescu writes on behalf of FINA.
Furthermore, Marculescu asserts that since Al Hajiri is not a recognized leader of the KSA, he nor his fellow KSA executives may participate in the FINA Congress nor call for the congress to suspend a member, putting the issue to bed ahead of the July 22 election in Budapest, Hungary.
FINA used the complaint as an opportunity to fully clarify the situation in Kuwait which is as follows:
October 2015 – FINA suspends Kuwait Swimming Association following IOC suspension of Kuwait Olympic Committee due to government interference with its National Federations.
September 2016 – FINA rules that despite the suspension, KSA’s executives could retain or stand for elected positions in the International Federation.
October 2016 – The government-appointed KSA leaders initially call for the removal of Al Musallam from the FINA Bureau and first vice president ballots.
February 2017 – FINA clarifies the recognized leaders of the KSA, namely Sheik Khaled Al Bader M Al Sabah as president and Al Musallam as general secretary. These are the only Kuwait swimming officials ratified to stand for FINA positions.
July 3, 2017 – The KSA’s new leadership contests the re-election of FINA vice president Al Musallam in a 13-page letter. Appointed chairman Al Hajiri claims the suspension of the KSA nullifies Al Musallam’s eligibility to run.
July 17, 2017 – FINA responds to complaint by the KSA and rejects all claims made by Al Hajiri, confirming Al Musallam’s ability to stand for reelection as FINA Bureau member and first vice president at the July 22 FINA Congress.
Opposition to Al Musallam began to coalesce in May, when media reports implicated Al Musallam as a co-conspirator in a criminal trial against Guam Football Association President Richard Lai. Lai pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, saying he took nearly $1 million in bribes facilitated by two figures in the Asian Football Confederation and Olympic Council of Asia.
Al Musallam has denied the charges and remains in office. FINA has said it will "monitor the situation and take all measures deemed necessary following the conclusion of the various investigations." FINA has so far not launched an investigation of its own.
The congress on July 22 also features a contested presidential election between incumbent president Julio Maglione and challenger Paolo Barelli. Now age 81, Maglione has presided over the IF since 2009 while abolishing statutes requiring age and term limits.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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