The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA) has launched an investigation, following a potential integrity breach regarding betting allegations - concerning several water polo players.
An integrity probe was launched after a report linked to the case given from the MGA.
The ASA said: "Some betting activity has been identified among certain individuals which do constitute breaches, but the conduct observed does not appear to constitute match-fixing."
Those currently identified are six national-team players and they are rumoured to be connected to multiple clubs, mainly San Ġiljian and Sliema – according to Times of Malta.
The integrity office acts independently from both the AIMS (Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports) and the ASA. And following a recently appointed integrity officer – Herman Mula, within the ASA, he has swiftly established direct cooperation with the MGA.
Currently the ASA has said that based on the information available from the MGA report, the initial view does not suggest any match-fixing or deliberate attempts to manipulate competition outcomes.
The MGA previously identified a system breach earlier in the month, prompting the regulator to activate internal response protocols.
The ASA said it remains committed to upholding “the highest standards of integrity within aquatic sports.”
It stated that it had entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority), through which it was granted access to the regulator's report on the matter.
The official ASA rules say, athletes, officials and club-affiliated individuals are prohibited from betting on competitions organised under the association's aegis, with breaches carrying suspensions of between one and three years.
The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta stated that no further comment would be made at this stage to safeguard the integrity of the process.
The Times of Malta reported that there are no current grounds for criminal prosecution
