Italian Men’s Water Polo Team Issued 6-Month Suspension, Out of 2025 World Cup

The Adjudicatory Body of the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) has announced the suspension of the Italian Men’s Water Polo Team from competition for a period of 6 months for violating Article 5 of the World Aquatics Integrity Code. 

The full text of Article 5, titled “Duties of Good Conduct” can be found below. This article, in particular, dictates that in competition, athletes must act with respect towards teammates, opponents, and officials. According to the World Aquatics/AQIU press release, the violations occurred at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games following the team’s quarterfinal match against Hungary on August 7, 2024, and during the classification match against Spain on August 8, 2024. 

During the match against Hungary, the Italian player Francesco Condemi was ejected from the game after he struck Hungarian opponent Szilard Jansik while scoring a goal. In addition to the ejection, Condemi’s goal was invalidated by officials following a video review, and the Italian team was forced to play the remainder of the match man-down, with only 4 players in the field. Hungary ultimately won the game in a shoot-out, with Italian coaches immediately issuing a protest of the officiating during the game, players also verbally chastised the officials following the match.

Following that incident, the players then turned their backs on the officials during the national anthem during their next game against Spain in protest of the previous calls. The team also reportedly failed to engage in several pre-game protocols during the match against Spain as part of their protest. 

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Italy finished in 7th place after being knocked-out of the tournament in a shootout loss to Hungary during the quarter-finals. Earlier in the year, the team won a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships. 

As a result of the suspension, the Italian team will be barred from participating in any World Aquatics-sponsored tournaments or events for a period of 6 months. Notably, this will prevent the team from participating in the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup, one of the primer water polo tournaments. In addition, the team will have to pay at least $50,000 USD in fines, with penalties increasing up to $100,000 if a repeat offense is committed before October 17, 2026. 

“Article 5 DUTIES OF GOOD CONDUCT 

5.1 Covered Persons must always act honestly, fairly, impartially and in

accordance with the highest ethical standards of integrity and

transparency.

5.2 Covered Persons must avoid any conduct that is inconsistent with or

that undermines in any way the objectives of this Integrity Code.

5.3 Covered Persons must avoid acts or omissions that give the

appearance of impropriety, or that disparage World Aquatics, or that

bring (or have the potential to bring) World Aquatics, Aquatics and/or

sport generally into disrepute.

5.4 Covered Persons must not be involved with entities or persons whose

activities or reputations are inconsistent with the principles set out in

this Integrity Code. In order for this provision to apply, it is necessary

that the Covered Person has previously been advised in writing by

World Aquatics, a Continental Organisation, a World Aquatics Member,

or other relevant authority with jurisdiction over the Covered Person

that there should be no more association with such entity/person,

and of the consequences that will apply if any association continues.

5.5 Covered Persons must avoid any offensive, violent or disrespectful

behaviour towards other participants, including, the officials, other

athletes, media, and/or spectators during the entire conduct of a

competition. Such behaviour towards a doping control official is also

prohibited at any time.

5.6 Covered Persons must avoid any act of discrimination against anyone

on the basis of race, skin colour, gender, religion, sexual orientation,

language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,

birth, disability or any other ground.

5.7 Covered Persons must avoid interference, disobedience or

obstruction to the orderly conduct of any sporting event within or

outside of the venue(s).

5.8 Covered Persons must avoid interference with any aspect of the field

of play.

5.9 Covered Persons must actively participate in the full conduct of the

competition, including victory ceremonies and, if applicable,

presentations and/or press conferences. Any political or religious

statement or behaviour is strictly prohibited during these times.

5.10 Athlete Support Personnel shall cooperate with the anti-doping

testing program and shall not use or possess any substance or

method prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code without valid

justification.”