The Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU), the investigative and disciplinary arm of World Aquatics, has given Hungarian swim coach Ivan Petrov a three-month suspension for violations of the World Aquatics Integrity Code.
Petrov, who has twin Romanian and Hungarian citizenship, is the pinnacle swim coach of Győri Úszó SE swimming in Hungary, and a four-time Olympic coach.
Whereas she will not be named within the disciplinary paperwork, the case pertains to Henrietta Fangli, who was granted a change of sporting citizenship from Romania to Hungary earlier this 12 months.
The Hungarian Swimming Affiliation submitted a request of change of sports activities nationality on Might 13, 2024, and an electronic mail despatched to World Aquatics by Petrov by a lawyer asserted that Fangli resided with him in Hungary, which based on the AQIU was carried out “so as to persuade World Aquatics that the third requisite of Half One – Article 3.3.1 of the Competitors Laws was met and that the change of sporting nationality needs to be authorized.”
However Fangli, who’s presently residing and coaching on the College of Houston in the US, contradicted that declare to the AQIU.
In accordance with the choice doc:
On 18 June 2024, World Aquatics inquired in regards to the Athlete’s present
residence, as publicly accessible info indicated that she had presently been finding out and residing in the US for the previous few years. This info appeared to immediately contradict the Respondent’s Official Assertion.On the identical day, the Athlete confirmed that she lives and research within the
United States and she or he solely returns to Hungary to coach throughout the holidays (Christmas or New 12 months) and the summer time break.
The related article of the change of sporting citizenship guidelines reads as follows:
The Athlete shall have uninterrupted residence within the nation or Sport Nation of the New World Aquatics Member for a minimum of three years previous to his/her first Worldwide Competitions or shall be capable of exhibit by the top of the ready interval on the newest, that he/she has a real, shut and established hyperlink to the nation or Sport Nation he/she is going to signify.
Despite having that info, World Aquatics authorized the request in June 2024 given the athlete’s “real, shut and established hyperlink to Hungary contemplating…that each she and her family have held Hungarian citizenship for 11 years.”
Fangli was one in all 300,000 ethnic Hungarians positioned outdoors of the nation’s borders that have been granted Hungarian citizenship in 2013. That included about 280,000 who lived in Romania, and particularly Transylvania the place Fangli is from and far of which was a part of Hungary previous to the 1920 Treaty of Trianon.
However that approval didn’t absolve Petrov’s offense within the eyes of AQIU, which initiated an investigation on July 10, 2024. Petrov responded to the discover of investigation a day later saying that he’s not a local English speaker and signed the assertion in good religion. He reiterated that the athlete resides at his house when she is in Hungary, and stated that the language barrier led to an unintentional settlement to the phrase “resides” versus “residing.”
On evaluate of the proof, the AQIU gave Petrov a five-month suspension on foundation of violations of sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 10.2 of the group’s Integrity Code that take care of honesty and moral requirements.
Petrov took benefit of the choice to disclaim the allegations in opposition to him (his proper beneath Article 23.3 c), saying that like many different worldwide athletes coaching in the US, she maintained a residence in Hungary.
From the report:
The Respondent additionally emphasised that the Official Assertion didn’t counsel that the Athlete lived completely with him and that Hungarian legislation permits for an official residence that doesn’t align with day-to-day residing preparations
The Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer (CECO) of the AQIU referred the matter to the Adjudicatory Physique on October 3, and a day later that group knowledgeable Petrov of his rights and a listening to by way of a single-member panel.
The panel member determined that AQIU was justified in its discovering of ethics violations, and disputed Petrov’s declare that he misunderstood the time period “residence” by calling it “extremely inconceivable.”
” It’s significantly telling that the one alleged confusion includes a time period that’s central to the decision-making course of and immediately impacts the eligibility necessities. This undermines the credibility of the Respondent’s clarification and suggests a self-serving motive,” the panel-member writes. “If the Respondent genuinely misunderstood the time period ‘Residence,’ it was incumbent upon them to hunt clarification earlier than continuing. The failure to take action additional signifies that the misunderstanding declare will not be credible and certain serves as an ex submit facto justification for non-compliance.
The one-member panel utilized the next sanctions:
- A warning as to future conduct;
- A reprimand;
- A effective in an quantity proportionate to the seriousness of the violation (quantity not disclosed);
- An order of reimbursement or restitution;
- A suspension from finishing up particular actions on behalf of World Aquatics and/or Continental Organisation and/or World Aquatics Member for a specified interval
- A interval of ineligibility (3 months)
The panel stated that as a result of the assertion was formally submitted, it didn’t contemplate the truth that the athlete’s change of citizenship was authorized anyway as a mitigating issue. It did credit score Petrov for having a “clear document up thus far,” and in the end decreased the suspension to 3 months.
Amongst different issues, that suspension prevents him from collaborating or attending, in any capability, in any aquatic competitors. It additionally utilized a effective, although it didn’t disclose the quantity of that effective.
Fangli swam 1:07.50 within the 100 breaststroke on the 2024 Hungarian Nationwide Championships to win the title, including a 31.31 to win the 50. She is the Hungarian Report holder within the 100 breaststroke in lengthy course (1:07.08) and in addition holds 5 Hungarian Information. She completed 4th ultimately 12 months’s Massive 12 Championships in the US within the 100 yard breaststroke.
Others representing the membership embody 35-year-old Zsu Jakabos, who represented Hungary on the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Video games. Jakabos and Petrov are married.
