The Korean Swimming Federation’s (KSF) headquarters have been raided by South Korean prosecutors, according to a report released by Reuters just hours ago.
Citing concerns about corruption and misappropriation of funds within the KSF organization, prosecutors have confiscated computer hard drives and sports industry-related project documents from the headquarters. Specifically, the KSF is suspected of ‘forging documents and siphoning off expenses.’
One of KSF’s executive officers, along with other officials, have been arrested, according to the report. Approximately 20 other organizations linked to the KSF were also raided as a result of the allegations.
The raid is coming after Korea’s Sports Ministry already announced last week it was cutting off funding to several federations for corruption, leading to possibly more federations being thrown into the raid mix.
The KSF is famously the home of banned Olympic champion swimmer Park Tae Hwan, who is in the midst of serving an 18-month ban for having testing positively for a prohibited substance. Park’s suspension is up on March 2nd, where the 26-year-old will then need to wait and see if a subsequent Korean Olympic Committee-imposed rule further hindering any national team participation for three years post-suspension will be lifted.
The KSF has not yet commented on the raids at this time.