Belgian Swimming Federation technical director Mark Faber is currently serving a six-month suspension for sexual misconduct and will miss the Dutch European Trials, which get underway on Thursday in Eindhoven.
According to Dutch outlet de Volkstrant, Netherlands’ third-largest newspaper, Faber accepted a six-month suspension on January 9, 2026, for sexual misconduct.
Faber, 53, took over as the head of the Belgian federation in November 2024, but the suspension stems from his conduct while leading the Dutch federation.
The suspension, issued by the Institute for Sports Jurisprudence (ISR), an independent body handling disciplinary cases in Dutch sports, barred Faber from all activities involving the Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB).
However, during the first two months of the suspension, he continued working on pool deck at Belgium’s national facility, the Olympic Swimming Center in Antwerp, where he coaches Dutch breaststroke stars Caspar Corbeau and Tes Schouten, along with top Belgian athletes, including Roos Vanotterdijk.
According to de Volkstrant, Faber continued working for two months in Belgium with permission from the KNZB. Despite training two of the top Dutch swimmers, the KNZB reportedly saw no issue with it as neither were officially affiliated with the federation.
He also made the Belgian Swimming Federation aware of the suspension as he continued working.
In a statement, the Belgian federation said it “had been fully and transparently informed by Mark Faber from the outset of the case, regarding the proceedings and the decisions made.”
“The federation maintains its full confidence in his professional integrity and commitment to swimming. In light of the available information, his transparent attitude, and the positive collaboration, the federation sees no reason to end this collaboration.”
Faber stopped working after two months when World Aquatics adopted the suspension.
Faber is suspended from any involvement in international swimming until July 9, thus meaning the Dutch European Trials, which are scheduled for July 2-7.
He was absent from the Belgian Swimming Trials from May, officially for “personal reasons.”
SwimSwam has reached out to both World Aquatics and Faber for comment, but have not received a reply.
THE SUSPENSION
Faber’s suspension stems from a report filed by one of his former swimmers with the ISR in July 2024, according to de Volkstrant.
The ISR prosecutor determined he had sexual contact over an extended period of time with a swimmer, “in which he held a greater position of power than the victim,” according to the settlement obtained by de Volkstrant.
According to the ISR, Faber’s actions “led to an unfair and unsafe sporting environment over an extended period,” and noted that he “failed to recognize the seriousness of his actions in conversations with investigators.”
Faber accepted the suspension on January 9, 2026.
He reportedly admitted that sexual contact had taken place over a extended period, but said there was always mutual consent. The victim denied this, and said she did not come forward earlier due to feelings of shame.
By continuing to work in Belgium through the first two months of his suspension, the victim believes Faber violated the terms of the sanction. She has issued an appeal to the ISR, which is now investigating whether or not he was in violation of the terms.
SwimSwam has reached out to Faber for comment.
BACKGROUND
While working with the KNZB in 2023, Faber was investigated over allegations including bullying and abuse of power. He was cleared of any wrongdoing after a five-month investigation concluded in April 2024.
He was introduced as the new leader of the Belgian Swimming Federation in November 2024. Previously, he served as the head coach of the Dutch national team, having been named to that role in September 2021.
Last summer, Schouten and Corbeau moved to Antwerp to train under Faber in Belgium. Both swimmers won Olympic bronze medals in the 200 breaststroke at the Paris Games in 2024.
Vanotterdijk, who has been training under Faber since his move to Belgium, has evolved into one of the emerging talents in Europe over the past two years. She won silver in the women’s 100 fly and bronze in the 50 fly at the 2025 World Championships while also earning semi-final appearances in the 100 free, 50 back and 100 back.
I’m hoping all those who swim for him are safe from this monster.