It was recently revealed that Janet Evans will not proceed with her appointment as a FINA Bureau member representing United States Aquatic Sports (USAS). Dale Neuburger, current representative for USAS and a FINA Vice President, was in the process of filling out his term with intentions to turn over his FINA Bureau member role to Evans. Elevating Evans to a FINA Vice President position would have been a secondary process.
With the revelation that Evans was not intending to replace Neuburger at the end of his term, speculation of Neuburger’s role has swirled in the media.
To clarify his current and future role with FINA, Neuburger released this statement to Swimming World:
“Allow me to state unequivocally that I am not a candidate for FINA President, nor have I been in the past, nor foresee being so in the future.
For nineteen years, I have served as FINA Vice President, elected unanimously by United States Aquatic Sports through its five constituent organizations ( USA Swimming, USA Diving, USA Synchro, USA Water Polo, and US Masters Swimming) on five occasions (2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017).
Regarding Janet Evans, I nominated her as my successor, and I guided and supported her candidacy through the USAS approval process. I am disappointed that she has chosen to withdraw from consideration for FINA Bureau membership, but I am hopeful that she will be able to undertake such a role in the future. We have known each other for thirty years, and I regard her with high respect as an icon of our sport.
Further, it is unfortunate that some media outlets continue to raise allegations of conflict of interest. These were the unsubstantiated comments of an unsuccessful and desperate candidate who received less than 30% of the votes cast in the election for FINA President . The International Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed these charges on two occasions, with the plaintiff responsible for all court costs. Additionally, after thorough review, the FINA Ethics Panel affirmed no breach of ethical standards.
I have two years remaining in my term as FINA Vice President, and I will look forward to fulfilling my duties to FINA and USAS. For the record, the United States has representatives on nineteen of the twenty FINA committees and commissions (slightly less than double the number of any other country in the world), providing unprecedented American leadership opportunities to advance our sport. I expect that the FINA World Championships in Gwangju (KOR) in the coming weeks, as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with 49 medal events (more than any other sport), will solidify the preeminent position of Swimming within the Olympic sport space.” – Dale Neuburger
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
Hmm!
Who was the “unsuccessful and desperate candidate who received less than 30% of the votes”?
I am missing something here, what is it?
FINA Ethics Panel? ?