Among others, Jakob Marušič, who was convicted two years ago of illegal arms trade, was elected to the commission, which is the single point of contact for information on integrity in sport and reporting violations or abuses, in the Kayaking Association of Slovenia. The photo is symbolic. Photo: Luka Cjuha
Doomed arms trade belies the integrity of athletes
Integrity commissions in sports federations are supposed to be composed of recognized experts who should take care of the promotion of ethics and fair play and the prevention of corruption and unsportsmanlike conduct in sports, but this is not always the case. The Kayak Federation of Slovenia is represented here by a person convicted of illegal production and trafficking of weapons.
In order to strengthen the area of integrity in sports, the Olympic Committee of Slovenia – Sports Associations (OKS-ZŠZ) included a commission for integrity in sports in its rules two years ago, which meant upgrading and expanding the area that was otherwise covered by the commission for ethical issues in sports.
In the Kayaking Association of Slovenia (KZS), in April this year, among others, they were elected to the commission, which is the single point of contact for information on integrity in sport and reporting violations or abuses. Jakob Marušičwho was convicted two years ago of illegal arms trafficking and is still serving a suspended sentence of one year and six months in prison with a probationary period of two years. To the Director of KZS Andrej Jelenac that doesn’t seem like a problem.
“An important member of the committee”
“Mag. Jakob Marušič is our longtime colleague, employed as the head of the program of events and sports for all. In accordance with the area he covers, he attended training for a safe sports environment and obtained the Safeguarding Children in Sport certificate, which is why he was nominated and appointed to the integrity commission,” explained Andrej Jelenc.
He emphasized that Marušič’s sentence, which expires on June 27, was not hidden from him and was not overlooked when he was appointed to the commission: “Since we have known him, he has shown himself to be honest, principled and quick to recognize injustices. His actions and operations throughout the years of cooperation were based on openness, clarity and predictability. These are the values we should expect from people who will recognize dangers in the first instance and look for ways to improve operations that will prevent unpleasant events.”
During our inquiry, the director of the KZS also informed us that “the sports law prohibits persons who have been sentenced to a non-suspended sentence of more than 6 months, and persons who have been convicted of acts against sexual integrity” from working in sports, and that Jakob Marušič is not among the persons who would be legally prohibited from working in sports according to any of these points. “As a person with the aforementioned acquired professional knowledge, he is an important element for the successful operation of the commission,” concluded Andrej Jelenc.
A stain incompatible with the integrity of the sport
The PEND Slovenia association, which deals with the issue of violence in sports, points out that the crime of illegal production and trafficking of weapons or explosives, for which Marušič was convicted, despite the fact that it was most likely not committed in the context of his sports activities or did not directly harm anyone in the context of sports activities, is still a serious crime.
“It is connected with a serious threat to general security already on an abstract level and is therefore also placed in the European framework of the fight against organized crime. Even if it is not directly related to sports,” says the president of PEND Slovenia Pia Barbara Hrovat. “Why this is not a matter that sports organizations should define in their internal rules is the issue of the absence of a safe sports environment,” the interlocutor believes.
She emphasized that severe integrity stains (corruption, violence, organized crime), which a conviction for illegal arms trade undoubtedly is, are clearly incompatible with the integrity of sport and are a sufficient reason for a person not to hold a position in the integrity commission or a similar body.
Deliberate lowering of safety and ethical standards
Pia Barbara Hrovat pointed out that the same applies to sponsors, as a connection with a person convicted of such a crime is contrary to the values of honesty, safety and social responsibility, so integrity or “moral clauses” in sponsorship contracts should allow for the dissolution of such relationships.
“Ignoring such standards – for example, for such a person to remain in a key position or in the forefront as a sponsor – means a conscious lowering of safety and ethical standards and is contrary to commitments to a safe sports environment,” said the president of PEND Slovenia. One wonders what values such an organization promotes and what it wants to communicate to the public with such an appointment.
“This question can best be answered by parents who send their children to such an environment for training, preparation, competitions… or sponsors who invest in such an organization,” says Pia Barbara Hrovat. She added that the issue of public financing and sponsorship of companies controlled by public law entities, such sports organizations, is also relevant.
