In August 2023, the Aquatics Integrity Unit of World Aquatics issued a 20-year ban to former president of the Chilean Federation of Aquatics Sport, Marcos Jara. This sanction came after Jara was found to have violated the FINA Code of Conduct on two occasions and the FINA Code of Ethics on one occasion.
Jara had submitted tampered invoices and false information to World Aquatics in an attempt to receive additional funds through the Olympic Aquatics Support Program. He managed to dishonestly obtain $50,000 USD before an investigation was launched. Jara was formally charged on August 25, 2023, and his ban will be in effect until August 25, 2043. As part of the ban, he is prohibited from participating in any aquatic-related activities on behalf of World Aquatics or any other affiliated organization. Jara has also been fined $50,000 to repay the misappropriated funds.
This disciplinary action against Jara is not an isolated incident. Other officials from various countries have also faced sanctions for violating World Aquatics’ integrity code in recent months. For example, former president of the National Swimming Federation of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Malenko, and former chairman of the Arab Swimming Federation, Taha Sulaiman Al Kishry, received bans or suspensions.
Recently, coaches and administrators from Guam Swimming Federation, Christopher Duenas and Andrew Ho Lee were banned for three years for violating World Aquatics’ integrity code as well. Jara served as president of the Chilean Federation of Aquatics Sport from 2019 to 2021.