Paolo Barelli wins at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne against the World Aquatics Federation and continues, with full title and right, to preside over the Italian Swimming Federation. The CAS fully accepted the appeal presented by Paolo Barelli against the disqualification imposed by the Ethical Panel of the World Aquatics Federation (already FINA) for alleged administrative irregularities referred to when he held the role of Secretary of FINA itself and of which he was completely extraneous. The CAS has defined every activity decided and authorized by the world federation itself as well as totally legitimate. The reasons given fully support Paolo Barelli and highlight his fully correct behavior and his completely extraneous position. As already happened on previous occasions, due to the unfounded decision of the World Federation, it had declared to suspend Paolo Barelli from the position of president.
"Finally the decision of the CAS erases all the accusations and suspicions that, triggered in Italy and abroad, tried to obscure my image as a sports executive and politician - underlines Paolo Barelli - I have always had faith in the final outcome of justice, sports and not. I have always known the instrumentality of every accusation that alleged untruthful facts. I am proud to say that the Italian Swimming Federation, strongly conditioned by these events, has been able to carry forward the programs that we had planned towards the Paris 2024 Olympics and to continue in the wonderful wake of successes that have honored, thanks to the athletes, the coaches and the companies, the entire Italian sports movement. Now the Paris Games are approaching and we can dive back into the competition without further waste of energy necessary to defend myself from unfounded and defamatory accusations. I will not neglect to pursue those who have attacked my person and the federation that I am honored to preside over".
As is known both the criminal and sports justice have already filed all the accusations made against President Paolo Barelli with fully acquittal devices and shared even by the CONI prosecutor's office, in clear contrast with those reports of the public body that have produced since 2014 a series of speculations and instrumentalizations with obvious consequences on the sports and political activity, national and international, of the Barelli executive. The CAS has already expressed itself on further charges formulated by the Ethical Panel of the World Federation against Paolo Barelli, legitimizing the continuation of the mandate, and part of them are under the scrutiny of the Swiss Federal Court which will have to examine whether the sanctions of the World Federation itself constitute an abuse of right.
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