CAS Finds “Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption” Violations in 2024 World Triathlon Election Run-Up

July 22, 2025

The Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that a member World Triathlon’s Executive Board committed anti-bribery and anti-corruption infractions in the lead up to last year’s vote to install current President Antonio Arimany.

Liber Garcia, who serves as President of the Uruguayan Triathlon Federation and Americas Triathlon, was found to have breached World Triathlon’s Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy, Code of Ethics, and Code of Conduct for his actions during the 2024 World Triathlon election.

However, CAS also ruled that the infraction was so minor as to reduce Garcia’s sanction from a year suspension from his role with World Triathlon to a warning.

The case stems from the 2024 World Triathlon election cycle, which involved the election of a new President, Vice Presidents, and Executive Board members.

One of the candidates, then-President of the Australian Triathlon Federation and Oceania Triathlon, Michelle Cooper, contacted Garcia about the forthcoming election via WhatsApp in September 2024. During the course of the conversation, Garcia insinuated that “we have a strong agreement between Africa, Asia, and America” and “the president that we support will be elected.”

Garcia went further, asking Cooper to step down as a candidate for President: “It’s for you to step down as president and we’ll support you to stay on the board.” A day later, Garcia was emphatic: “In Vichy, you would have to announce that you are withdrawing and…support our candidate who is from Europe!”

Cooper filed a complaint with World Triathlon, alleging the breach of rules by Garcia. Slowswitch