CAS confirms individual ethics violation in World Triathlon elections

El Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) has confirmed a ethical violation committed by Liber Garcia, President of Americas Triathlon and member of the World Triathlon Executive Committee, during the 2024 election campaign.

The resolution concludes that García pressured the Australian candidate. Michelle Cooper to withdraw his nomination in exchange for support in another position, which violates the organization's Code of Conduct.

Although it was initially suspended for 12 months by a domestic court, the CAS has reduced the sanction to a simple warning, pointing out that it is a individual fault without structural impact on the validity of the elections.

What does the ruling say?

The messages between García and Cooper revealed an attempt to consolidate a bloc between the Americas, Asia, and Africa. According to the CAS, this behavior falls within the practices considered "corruption" within World Triathlon, although it emphasizes that No institutional coordination or systemic pattern of manipulation has been demonstrated.

This leaves out any indication of Antonio Arimany, current president of World Triathlon, and the rest of the management team.

Cooper's version and the reaction of those around him

Although the resolution limits the scope of the infringement, Michelle Cooper has interpreted the ruling as a confirmation of its complaints.

In her release, maintains that “integrity matters” and that what happened during the elections was part of a broader pattern, although he admits his disappointment with the reduced penalty.

The organization's response has been cautious: "We will not make any statements about a CAS decision of which we are unaware because it is not public."

So now what?

The CAS resolution does not alter the results nor call into question the legality of the electoral process.

However, the debate over transparency and internal democracy within World Triathlon remains open. Although legally closed, the case has revived a latent concern: who monitors the monitors?

Media like The Times o The Inquisitor They had already pointed out in 2024 a possible list of "favorite candidates," continental blockades and internal pressures, but so far none of these suspicions have resulted in widespread sanctions or reviews of the process.

A challenge for the future

What's at stake is not just a management position, but the credibility of an organization that manages an Olympic sport. With Paris 2024 still recent and the calendar With 2025 already underway, World Triathlon must strengthen its ethical and regulatory mechanisms if it wants to protect itself from future controversies.

In summary, The CAS ruled against a person, not a system.But the echo of the case resonates far beyond the name of Líber García. The international triathlon community is watching closely and demanding clear answers.