LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – FINA suspended a Ukrainian swimming official Wednesday after a television network showed footage of him scuffling with his daughter at the world championships in Melbourne, Australia.
The sport’s world governing body said the temporary ban bars Mihail Zubkov from working as a coach or official under its jurisdiction until a final decision has been made following representations by his lawyer.
In footage captured by host broadcaster the Nine Network on Tuesday, a man identified by local media as Zubkov was filmed in a physical altercation with a swimmer. The swimmer was identified as Zubkov’s daughter Kateryna, a 20-year-old backstroker.
Zubkov, who is Kateryna’s trainer, has already been stripped of his accreditation at the event and banned by Australian officials from making any contact with his daughter. He is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where police will seek to extend an intervention order – forbidding Zubkov from going within 200 meters of his daughter – until he leaves Australia at the end of the week.
