This summer in Paris, the World and European Aquatics Integrity Units met National Federation delegates to explain the nature of their mission under a banner - “From Awareness to Action”, and today in Baku, the continental body gathered leaders and members at its “Waves of Change” Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Integrity Conference.

Great timing. For if you wanted to test how serious they are when it comes to 'action', not PR, buzz words and statements patting each other on the blazer back for a job well ... er, well, not yet well done or done at all, there's nothing like a bellwether scandal that calls into question the entire integrity ecosystem in aquatics, national level through to international response and responsiveness.

We're looking at a watershed moment for watchdog units that will either sink their investigative teeth rapidly and robustly into matters that transcend the case below or swim further out into shark-infested waters inhabited by the kind of governors who would rather we only scrutinise others, not them. That issue hangs over World and European Aquatics - and their integrity units - like a storm cloud gathering.

Meanwhile, here's the national story in play, one with clear international implications.

The president of the Slovak Swimming Federation (SPF), Ivan Šulek, is now subject to an Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) inquiry at global level after red flags were raised with the European Integrity Unit.

The submission to the unit was made by three legal teams representing a coalition of 64 swimming clubs - almost half of all clubs in Slovakia - suspended by Šulek and fellow SPF leaders.

The legal firms and lawyers are:

1. Advokáti Chlipala s.r.o. – JUDr. Ing. Miroslav Chlipala - designated representative for official correspondence
2. JUDr. Marcel Blažo
3. JUDr. Ľubomír Myndiuk, LL.M.

Šulek's grounds for suspending clubs include what he claims to have been an attempt to sabotage governance by failing to turn up to meetings that were then left without the required quorum to vote on SPF business.

The coalition of the suspended say that's nonsense, and that the suspensions were imposed to prevent them from voting on a proposal to remove him and other members of the leadership from office over numerous concerns about their governance.

The timing of events would appear to favour the latter explanation. Documents seen by SOS tell of a 2023 proposal to remove Šulak over concerns about his conduct. In 2025 and 2026, that conduct, say the suspended clubs, extended to a calculated suspension of their memberships.

AQIU has been handed what a very large number of the Slovak swimming community see as "a clear violation" of the SPF's own statutes by the federation leadership, one which prevented discussion of submitted and requested agenda items, such as the removal of the president and Council members and the review of financial matters concerning the organisation of the U23 and Junior European Championships.

Many of those affected by the club suspensions have also been told that the competitions they organise will not be recognised, nor submitted to the rankings/results database used by European Aquatics.

More than 1,000 young swimmers are impacted. Šulek's action has been slammed as detrimental to athletes, their development, chances of national-team selection and their welfare. It also can be said to make a mockery of rankings systems that are worthless if they do not tell the true and full picture on the state of swimming speed, nationally and internationally.

There's much more to a story that raises serious questions about these, among other, issues:

• athlete protection
• the treatment of whistleblowers and those who report concerns internally at swimming organisations
• questionable use of development funds; conflicts of interest and nepotism; an absence of internal justice mechanisms; and an abuse of power by officials said to have exceeded their statutory authority.
• concerns over financial transparency, compliance with the SPF Statutes and Ethical Code, the reliability of governance procedures and the exercise of presidential authority.
• the alarming events surrounding a missed court deadline that resulted in the loss of more than a million euros in state funding (since reinstated)

Through sources close to inquiry, SOS has been made aware of events that cannot yet be placed in the public domain without risking exposure of vulnerable parties.

However, in the course of researching the saga, SOS contacted one of those who has submitted supporting evidence to go alongside the coalition's integrity submission, and she was willing to make a statement in her name.

Ivana Lange, a Sydney 2000 Olympian and former Slovak international, has served as General Secretary of the SPF in recent years, and explained to SOS:

"I made my disagreement with the practices of the Slovak Swimming Federation's leadership clear in an open letter. Our views on the fundamental principles of how a sports federation should be governed were simply incompatible. I stand by my position and distance myself from practices that I believe are now working against the Federation's own members.

The fact that even the Executive Board member representing the athletes voted in favour of suspending almost half of the Federation's member clubs speaks volumes about the current leadership's priorities. Those elected to represent athletes should be protecting their interests, not supporting decisions that ultimately harm them. This is exactly why I could no longer support the direction in which the Federation was being led.

I have also had my own personal experiences with what I consider to be serious integrity and governance violations by the SPF leadership. However, I have deliberately chosen not to make those experiences the focus of my public statement. This case is not about me. It is about the athletes, the children and the clubs who are now suffering the consequences of decisions made by those elected to represent and protect their interests.

To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a comparable case in international aquatics where a federation president suspended the activities of almost half of its member clubs, effectively preventing them from voting on a proposal to remove him and other members of the leadership from office.

I trust that the Integrity Units of European Aquatics and World Aquatics will thoroughly investigate this case and help ensure that the Federation's leadership acts in the interests of its members rather than its own.

If such practices are allowed to continue, this case could set a dangerous precedent far beyond Slovakia. I have never witnessed anything comparable in the history of Slovak sport, and it deeply saddens me to see my sport and my country associated with such practices on the international stage."

Among concerns being raised by members of the Slovak swimming community was this:

• An international contractual commitment to stage the European Aquatics U23 championships that was undertaken without the prior collective approval required by the SPF Statutes. Article 44(3) of the SPF Statutes requires contractual relationships exceeding 10,000 euros (exc. VAT) to be entered into only after prior approval of the SPF Council. The preliminary agreement with European Aquatics for U23 included commitments for some 100,000 euros, yet documents suggest that Šulek not only signed the agreement in 2023 without the prior approval of the SPF Council but was aware before the public signing that the required approval had not yet been obtained.

What We know - The Key Points:

Mass Suspensions and "Crisis" in the Sport

In mid-2026, the SPF leadership effectively suspended 64 clubs out of 136 in the country - almost half the membership of an entire country. Media outlets like Aktuality.sk described it as a crisis "the sport has never experienced before," with approximately four-fifths of the clubs in the Bratislava region alone facing suspension.

Disruption of Competitions

The legal battle and administrative restrictions have directly spilled over into youth and junior tournaments. PK ORCA Bratislava was forced to delay its high-profile ORCA Children Cup, citing profound "legal uncertainty" caused by the federation's actions.

The "3-2-1 ŠTART" Escalation

The row reached a boiling point ahead of the 3-2-1 ŠTART (Round 3) meet due to take place this weekend, October 10-11.

• The Federation's Stance: The SPF announced it would refuse to recognise the event's results. It decreed that the meet would be stripped from the official calendar, and times achieved by the swimmers would not be recorded in official state statistics or the international rankings database used by European Aquatics.
• The Club's Retaliation: PK ORCA Bratislava and ORCA FAMILY have condemned the federation’s decision as illegal, stating that the SPF is "dividing the swimming community" and holding young athletes hostage over political disputes. ORCA flatly refused the federation's suggestion to hand the event over to a non-suspended organiser, calling it an attempt to legitimise unlawful governing practices.  On July 28, in their first rsponse to the SPF’s move to suspend on July 20, ORCA sent the federation a notice headed “Notice concerning published SPF Council Decision No. SPF/2026/R/Z8/U2 of 20 July 2026 on the alleged suspension of membership, request for its immediate revocation and the immediate restorationof the exercise of membership rights. The document cited the statutes the club felt that SPF had violated.

The situation remains highly volatile, with ORCA and fellow clubs actively encouraging participants and officials to fight the bans, emphasising that a swimmer's future should be decided "by hard work in the water, not conflicts outside the pool.”

• A public petition initiated by parents (not officials or coaches) is also underway. In just one day, as of 11:00 PM on October 9, 2026, it had already garnered 1,800 signatures

ORCA posted the following on its social on Wednesday:

"Dear friends of swimming, dear Slovak Swimming Federation,

"We would like to express our position regarding the "3-2-1 START" competition, organised by our club, which is taking place this coming weekend—October 10 and 11, 2026—at the STU Faculty of Civil Engineering pool in Bratislava.

"The "3-2-1 START" competition has been duly approved and included in the SPF (Slovak Swimming Federation) schedule for 2026, and it is being organised in accordance with mandatory SPF regulations. Our goal is to create an environment where swimmers can showcase the results of their training, surpass their personal bests, meet friends, and continue pursuing the sport to which they dedicate so much effort throughout the year.

"At ORCA Bratislava, we believe that swimming belongs to everyone -children, youth, adults, and professional swimmers alike. It also belongs to coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, and everyone who contributes their time and energy to building the swimming community. Swimming is meant to bring people together, offering them a space to improve, compete, and experience the joy of sport.

"Unlawful actions taken by the SPF against certain clubs must not affect or jeopardise the very essence of our sport: the simple desire to swim. These measures must not curtail the desire of swimmers to compete, of officials to officiate, of coaches to support their athletes, or of volunteers to assist in organising competitions.

"However, the unlawful suspension of membership for nearly half of the clubs—along with other unlawful actions by the SPF—demonstrates that this situation has long since extended beyond the pool itself. It restricts the right of us all to pursue the sport that defines our lives. Instead of protecting and developing swimming, the SPF is taking it away from us.

"We view the SPF’s announcement dated October 7, 2026, which suggests that the competition could simply be held under a different organiser—as a crossing of all red lines and a violation of fundamental sporting principles. Acceding to such a demand would mean legitimising the SPF’s unlawful conduct, something ORCA Bratislava refuses to do. Particularly unfair and evasive is the SPF’s stance that its actions are not directed against athletes but "only" against certain clubs, even though it is the athletes who bear the immediate consequences. Through its unlawful actions, the SPF is creating chaos within the swimming community and bears responsibility for the resulting consequences.

"Every duly registered participant has the right to compete and to have their result—achieved in accordance with the SPF’s binding regulations—properly recognised. If this right is denied, they may assert it through all available means.

"We therefore call upon the SPF to respect the free decision of athletes, referees, coaches, volunteers, and clubs to participate in the "3-2-1 ŠTART" competition. Children and young swimmers, in particular—as well as other athletes and sports professionals—should not have to bear the consequences of a situation they did not cause and cannot control. Their place is in the pool, at the starting blocks, not in the midst of conflicts outside the sporting arena.

"In conclusion, we reject the actions of the SPF that divide the swimming community and restrict the free practice of the sport. We support all fair and lawful initiatives aimed at fully reopening swimming to all swimmers and ensuring that their sporting futures are determined primarily by training, determination, and performance in the water.

"We are organising the "3-2-1 ŠTART" competition for you and for Slovak swimming. We look forward to seeing all participants at the pool! - Swimming Club ORCA Bratislava and ORCA FAMILY"

National political figures are weighing in.

In a social media post, Richard Nemec, former State Secretary for Sport, professional volleyball player and coach, reposted the Orca statement with the words:

"So this is really the peak of what the president of SPF, Mr. Šulek, allows. Forbidding children to race is completely unacceptable in my opinion. In my opinion, preventing approximately 1,150 young athletes from competing is a serious interference to their sport development and motivation. In my opinion, it is the height of abuse of your office and trying to stay in your chair at all costs. The fact that he managed to eliminate 64 clubs just to save his position is extremely serious.

If Slovak authorities are unable to act in this matter, I hope that the World International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics) will examine the whole situation, take responsibility and take necessary steps. I believe ten legends will not help in this case. 🤦 ♂️🤮

SPF's Stated Reason: "Quorum and Attendance Sabotage"

The SPF Council officially justified the mass suspension of PK ORCA Bratislava and 63 other clubs based on systemic organisational paralysis.
• The Federation’s Claims: The SPF leadership asserted that these 64 clubs had repeatedly and intentionally boycotted the Konferencia SPF (the federation's highest decision-making assembly). Because this massive bloc refused to attend, the meetings lacked a legal quorum.
• The Fallout: According to the federation, this ongoing absenteeism made it legally impossible to adopt essential amendments required by Slovak national sports legislation (Zákon o športe), threatening the federation's compliance and public funding. The SPF stated the suspensions were a last resort to "ensure the proper functioning of the federation."

The Clubs' Retaliation: Politics and "Purges"

The suspended clubs flatly reject this narrative and are pursuing the legal challenges indicated above. Grounds include:

• "Targeted Purges": The clubs claim the federation is acting illegally and abusing its power. They view the mass suspensions as a weaponised political manoeuvre designed to silence opposition voices, erase voting majorities, and push through controversial administrative changes without dissent.
• Legality of the Bans: Leaders within the club block point out that suspending nearly half of a national sporting movement over attendance disputes lacks proper basis in the federation's own statutes.

Their points appear to be backed up as facts in documents that SOS has seen, some of which we understand is now in the hands of the Aquatics Integrity Unit.

The Direct Impact on National Selections & Youth Swimming

The dispute has severely jeopardised members of the swimming community in Slovakia, including athletes and some of those who have raised a red flag, and for doing so, now find themselves not only being threatened for doing so but actually suspended and asked to resign from their positions.

The athletes:

1. Unrecognised Times & The "Blacklist": By stripping sanctioned events (like the 3-2-1 ŠTART meet) from the official calendar, the federation effectively cancels the rights of swimmers to have their performances officially registered in databases that store ongoing results with every passing competition. Those registrations are essential for their own development as well as team selections.
2. National Team Jeopardy: For young athletes pushing for spots on the Slovak national junior or senior rosters, this row creates a logistical nightmare. If an athlete swims a qualifying time at meets hosted by any of the suspended clubs, the federation refuses to validate the time. As a result, top-tier swimmers risk being excluded from official national selection lists and international championship entries solely due to the status of their home club.
3. Collateral Damage: The SPF claimed its actions targeted "only clubs and not the athletes." However, the clubs argue that separating the two is impossible: holding youth events hostage directly hurts the swimmers' competitive futures.

The controversy has effectively fractured the Slovak swimming community, pitting the state-recognised governing body against a substantial portion of the country's actual athletic infrastructure.

Origin Of A Controversy

The saga has many threads, some of them reaching to the source of the controversy, dating back to 2023, when the SPF lost over a million euros in state funding as a result of federation president Šulek's missed court deadline. Here's that particular angle of the story:

The tale of a missed deadline, an execution process, and the loss of public financing stems from a costly legal dispute that temporarily stripped the SPF of its capacity to receive state funding. The mechanics of that specific financial crisis involved a chain of targeted events:

The Legal Challenge: A Dispute Over Water Polo Fees

The entire crisis began with an internal sporting dispute involving unpaid "developmental" or training fees (výchovné) for water polo players. When the federation failed to resolve the financial dispute internally, it escalated to the civilian legal system, resulting in an adverse court ruling against the federation.
The SPF attempted to fight the ruling by filing an appeal with the Constitutional Court of Slovakia (Ústavný súd), trying to challenge the execution order issued against its assets. However, the Constitutional Court rejected the federation's legal challenge, upholding the initial enforcement.

The Missed Deadline & Loss of Status

Under Slovak national sports legislation (Zákon o športe), any national sports governing body must maintain the status of an "eligible recipient of public funds" (spôsobilosť prijímateľa verejných prostriedkov).
• The Violation: Because the SPF got caught in active asset execution (exekúcia) over the unpaid legal debt and failed to clear the legal hurdle or file appropriate remedies within mandated statutory deadlines, they automatically breached the legal conditions required by the state. SOS understands that the story behind how a critical email containing the deadline that the SPF did not meet raises extremely serious integrity issues.
• The Penalty: the state stripped the SPF of its eligibility to receive public money.

Beyond complex legal resolution, funding was restored but the consequences of the SPF leadership's handling of the matter are still being felt by the Slovak swimming community.

By removing 64 clubs from the voting registry, the SPF successfully lowered the quorum requirement, passed the state-mandated amendments, and secured the current budget - but at the cost of fracturing the entire sport.

The AQIU must now investigate all of that. The clock is ticking, and there are 64 clubs and more than 1,000 athletes, their coaches, families and communities relying on speedy and robust handling of the case by investigators.

Meanwhile, the shenanigans continue: SOS understands that three individuals, including Lange, have had their personal membership of the SPF suspended, even though they are all party to an official Integrity inquiry.

Such behaviour and how investigators view it and deal with it - and the many other concerning events above - are likely to determine how the entire Integrity ecosystem is perceived for years, if not decades, to come.

A FORUM and commentary will follow sometime this weekend.