SINGAPORE: A national swimmer and former SEA Games gold medallist faces a lengthy ban from swimming-related activities organised by the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA), after he went absent without leave (AWOL) while he was doing National Service (NS) last year.
Following internal investigations, the SSA convened a disciplinary committee two months ago which recommended the ban.
The swimmer's coach at the time also faces a ban, while the SSA have recommended his club be suspended for a shorter period from all their swimming-related activities.
TODAY knows the identity of the swimmer, the coach and his club, but is not disclosing it as all parties could appeal the recommendations of the SSA, which have yet to take effect.
While the swimmer is not part of this year's SEA Games team, some of the 21-strong squad that will compete at this year's Games are members of the club.
The SEA Games, a biennial event, will be jointly held in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from November 11 to 22.
Any suspension for the club, this close to the SEA Games, could affect the swimmers' performances in Indonesia.
While doing NS, the swimmer successfully applied to be a member of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Sportsman Scheme. Under the scheme, elite national athletes are given time off from their NS duties to train and take part in competitions.
According to sources, the Ministry of Defence found out that the swimmer had not attended physiotherapy and recovery sessions at the Singapore Sports Council last year. Nevertheless, the coach had marked him as "present" at these sessions.
The swimmer was court-martialled, although the reasons for him going AWOL are unclear.
At the last SEA Games in Laos in 2009, Singapore topped the swimming competition with 14 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals.
The morale of the team bound for Indonesia, as well as the form of the swimmers at the said club, may be affected.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source told Today: "This could very well impact all of the club's swimmers ... The bottom line is this has (also) impacted the whole (swimming) community." - TODAY
Following internal investigations, the SSA convened a disciplinary committee two months ago which recommended the ban.
The swimmer's coach at the time also faces a ban, while the SSA have recommended his club be suspended for a shorter period from all their swimming-related activities.
TODAY knows the identity of the swimmer, the coach and his club, but is not disclosing it as all parties could appeal the recommendations of the SSA, which have yet to take effect.
While the swimmer is not part of this year's SEA Games team, some of the 21-strong squad that will compete at this year's Games are members of the club.
The SEA Games, a biennial event, will be jointly held in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang from November 11 to 22.
Any suspension for the club, this close to the SEA Games, could affect the swimmers' performances in Indonesia.
While doing NS, the swimmer successfully applied to be a member of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Sportsman Scheme. Under the scheme, elite national athletes are given time off from their NS duties to train and take part in competitions.
According to sources, the Ministry of Defence found out that the swimmer had not attended physiotherapy and recovery sessions at the Singapore Sports Council last year. Nevertheless, the coach had marked him as "present" at these sessions.
The swimmer was court-martialled, although the reasons for him going AWOL are unclear.
At the last SEA Games in Laos in 2009, Singapore topped the swimming competition with 14 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals.
The morale of the team bound for Indonesia, as well as the form of the swimmers at the said club, may be affected.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source told Today: "This could very well impact all of the club's swimmers ... The bottom line is this has (also) impacted the whole (swimming) community." - TODAY
