A 20-year ban has been issued to Marcos Jara, the former president of the Chilean Federation of Aquatics Sport, by the Aquatics Integrity Unit of World Aquatics. This punishment was handed down after Jara was found to have breached the FINA Code of Conduct on two occasions and the FINA Code of Ethics on one occasion.
Jara’s misconduct came to light when he submitted falsified invoices and false information to World Aquatics in an attempt to obtain additional funds through the Olympic Aquatics Support Program. Despite his dishonesty, Jara managed to receive $50,000 USD before an investigation was launched.
On August 25, 2023, Jara was formally charged and his ban will take effect until August 25, 2043. As part of his punishment, he is prohibited from participating in any aquatic-related activities on behalf of World Aquatics or any other affiliated organization. Additionally, Jara must repay the misappropriated funds with a fine of $50,000.
Jara is not alone in facing disciplinary action from World Aquatics in recent months. Other individuals such as Aleksandar Malenko, former president of the National Swimming Federation of North Macedonia and Taha Sulaiman Al Kishry, former chairman of the Arab Swimming Federation have also received bans or suspensions for similar violations.
More 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. Jara served as president of Chilean Federation of Aquatics Sport from 2019 to 2021