World Aquatics (formerly FINA) has withdrawn its recognition of Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) and appointed a three-member stabilization committee to run the organization effective immediately.
World Aquatics confirmed the news to SwimSwam on Wednesday.
The Stabilization Committee will take over the PSI’s day-to-day operations, and has also been granted the ability to “conduct the proper and necessary amendments of the [PSI] Constitution and organize and conduct a new election.”
World Aquatics received various complaints regarding “concerning matters of inter alia poor governance principles” within the PSI, according to a memo dated Dec. 3 and signed by Executive Director Brett Nowicki.
The stabilization committee will be comprised of Philippine Sports Commission legal head Atty Wharton Chan, Philippine Olympic Committee Deputy Secretary General Valeriano Floro and Bases Conversion Development Authority Senior Vice President Arrey Perez.
This is the second time World Aquatics has implemented a stabilization committee in the last six months, having put one in place back in July to run the Kenyan Swimming Federation.
World Aquatics sent the memo to PSI President Lani Velasco, who was removed from her post effective immediately.
World Aquatics sent Asia Swimming Federation Secretary General Taha Suleiman Al Kishry to the Philippines last month to investigate the complaints against the federation.
Al Kishry, who was also in the country to declare it as host of the 2023 Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, reported his findings to World Aquatics which resulted in the implementation of the stabilization committee.
However, PSI members have launched a Change.org campaign to reinstate President Velasco and the Board of Trustees, alleging that Al Kishry simply urged Velasco to resign and didn’t conduct a proper investigation.
The PSI received a request from World Aquatics in 2018 to amend its bylaws, but never made the necessary changes.
Former Philippine Olympic swimmer Eric Buhain called World Aquatics’ decision an “answered prayer.”
“It has been a 20-year struggle for swimming and more importantly, the swimmers themselves, since the time [the late] Mark Joseph led and without due notice to Fina, ‘changed’ the FINA rules on unauthorized relations,” Buhain told the Manila Bulletin.
This level of politics has been hurting PSI since it’s inception. Ms. Velasco was clearly taking PSI into the future, rather than holding on to some ignorant past as her opposition wants. They want power, she wants fast swimming. She understands that coach education and great swim meets provide this rather than crowning former olympians as popular leaders. Thank you for swimming in the past. Ms. Velasco is taking us forward into the future. Her children gained so much from the sport and her intent and effort is to repay the sport and her country for those great memories. Cancelling her is ignorant and those doing this are selfish and IGNORANT. As for WA: clean your own house before throwing… Read more »
Clearly you have no idea what has been happening in Philippine swimming. They are not her “children” but are athletes. Time to run our Philippine swimming federation professionally and not by someone who has no swimming credentials or whatsoever besides being a swim mom of a rec swimmer.
And I note the absence of Kayla Sanchez this week even though signing to compete for the Philippines would be giving her more opportunity to compete in world champs in individual events.
She cannot swim for the Philippines until she acquires Philippine citizenship.
Fact! At this time, Kayla Sanchez is still under Swimming Canada. Her transfer was not official and was only initiated by PSI. She can not swim for Philippines under a Canadian citizenship. PSI is no longer a FINA recognized NGB. Not a good timing to switch in the middle of this mess.
This could now take years as Velasco is fighting FINA’s decision, as her attorneys filed a case on 21 December 2022.
PSI had been withdrawn by FINA on 15 December 2022, and is no longer serving as the NGB for Philippines. Kayla will need to decide if it’s worth sitting out. She missed out on a lot of international competitions this year and will continue to do so… Read more »
From her previous interviews, I thought she mentioned she re-acquired her Philippine Citizenship, and currently in Philippines to fulfill the one year residency requirement before she can represent Philippines. Also from news, her 1st competition is the world championship in Japan. Very excited to what she can bring to our beloved country Philippines.
So…it has been, at least 3 NF’s -MEX,KEN, now PHI- gone under WA management. I am sure a few more to come with a new constitution starting in January 1st.
PUR next???
Stay tuned.
World Aquatics should appoint a ‘Stabilization Committee’ to effectively run its own Bureau and weed out all the corruption and dark money.
The influence of China is almighty