The end of the purgatory is getting closer for Paolo Barelli. The former president of the European Swimming League (LEN), suspended for two years by the international body (World Aquatics, formerly FINA), has just been suspended for another year. World Aquatics announces that its independent ethics panel has decided to extend his suspension by twelve months, which will now end on 14 September 2025. The investigation by the ethics panel found a long history of fraud and corruption, including “requesting and accepting improper payments” and “failing to disclose a personal interest to the ethics panel“. President of LEN between 2012 and 2022, the Italian executive was also a member of the FINA Bureau, and Honorary Secretary of the body between 2009 and 2013. Under the sanction imposed by the World Aquatics ethics panel, he is no longer allowed to hold any official position in swimming until the end of his suspension, including his role as president of the Italian federation.
