The government of Guadalajara, Mexico will not have to pay any additional FINA-imposed fines for pulling out of 2017 World Championship hosting duties after all, according to Mexican news source Cinequo.
Per a hearing, which took place yesterday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, a settlement was reached between Guadalajara and FINA. The $7.5 million already paid by Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE) was reportedly deemed sufficient to cover the cost of having to relinquish hosting duties of the 2017 FINA World Championships at the 11th hour. Per Cinequo, FINA had requested a fine payment of $14.5 million.
Of the CAS decision, Guadalajaran municipal administrators said, “The government of Guadalajara welcomes this resolution because we believe it is best for water sports in Mexico and, because in a the scenario of confrontation, the athletes are most effected.”
The relationship between the Mexican swimming federation and FINA has been strained at best, where FINA suspended the federation in February of this year due to its not fulfilling contractual obligations of hosting the meet.
The 2017 FINA World Championships have since been awarded to Budapest, which was originally going to play host to the championships in 2019.