Breaking: Maltese Olympic Committee Votes To Temporarily Suspend Malta Table Tennis Association
The Malta Olympic Committee has voted to temporarily suspend the Malta Table Tennis Association following an executive board meeting.
The suspension comes after the closure of the Games of the Small States of Europe 2023, during which prominent members of the table tennis scene, including David Pace and Andrew Gambina, called out the use of foreign athletes during the game.
In an explanation of the suspension, the MOC shared several points along a timeline alleging claims of mismanagement, poor sportsmanship and even violations of the IOC Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport Policy.
“The omission of Andrew Gambina from the national team during the Games of the Small States of Europe 2023, it is to be noted that this was based on disciplinary grounds. During the final of the Men’s National Championships, Andrew Gambina demonstrated an act of absolute misbehaviour and disrespect after refusing to continue the match unless the assistant umpire was removed after he disagreed with the same umpire’s call.”
“Gambina’s poor attitude brought the match to a halt as he was resolute on not continuing and also sat on the table unless he got his way. Eventually, in order to bring the match to an end, the Tournament Director did remove the assistant umpire and the match was concluded with Gambina losing to national champion Gabriel Grixti. Such behaviour is totally against the sporting principles expected by the MOC by any national team athlete.”
The MOC also referred to recent events with David Pace.
“Following an agreement entered to between SportMalta and the Malta Table Tennis Association in July 2021, related to the use of NDSF funds for technical preparations ahead of the Games of the Small States of Europe 2023, the MTTA Executive Committee voted with six votes in favour and one vote against (David Pace) to opt for the recruitment of foreign based players to represent Malta through the Passport by Merit Scheme, similarly to what had already been done by a few other national sport federations.”
“Days later Pace decided to accept this decision and presented four different CVs of Hungarian nationals for the MTTA Executive Committee to discuss their possible recruitment. Ultimately, these options were discarded as the final selection fell on other players.”
“As a reaction to this, on 2nd September, Pace sent an unsigned resignation letter on his own behalf and also on behalf of four other MTTA Executive Committee members. These resignations inevitably brought about havoc within the MTTA to detriment of all MTTA Members who were left fuming that the season did not start, as annually done, in September. Clearly, the best interest of athletes was discarded completely.”
What do you make of this decision?
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