VERŻJONI BIL-MALTI
F' laqgħa msejjħa mill-Amministrazzjoni tal-Malta Triathlon Federation fil-kumpless tal-Pixxina Nazzjonali tal-Qroqq, illum is-Sibt 30 ta' Settembru 2017 fit-8:30 a.m. in konnessjoni mar-reazzjoni fuq il-media soċjali wara rapport li deher fuq it-Times of Malta dwar każ kurrenti min-Nado fuq atleta tal-Federazzjoni, il-Clubs preżwnti jaqblu u jiddikkjaraw li :

1. Jikkundannaw l-istqarrijiet u l-kummenti dispreġġjattivi kontra il-President u uffiċċjali tal-Federazzjoni;

2. Jifhmu li l-proċedura spjegata lilhom meħuda mill-Federazzjoni f' dan il-każ hija waħda kif jitlob l-Avviż Legali relattiv għar-rigward in-NADO u l-mod ta' etika kif timxi l-Federazzjoni f' sitwazzjonijiet simili, aktar li l-każ gadu għaddej u l-proċess għadu mhux magħluq.

IFFIRMATA 

St. Patrick's Sports Club
Mario Muscat

Mosta Cycling Club
Edward Enriquez

Pembroke Atleta Triathlon & Athletic Club
Victor Camilleri

Malta Youth Triathlon Academy - MYTA
Vanessa Woods

Birkirkara St. Joseph Sport Club
Euchar Camilleri

SKUŻATI
Oswald Spiteri - Teżorier, MTF
Delegat tal-Klubb Agones SFC (Joseph Zammit parti mil-laqgħa)
Delegat tal-Klabb Mellieha Athletic Club

_____________________________ 

ENGLISH VERSION
During a meeting called by the Administration of the  Malta Triathlon Federation in the National Pool Complex at Tal-Qroqq, today, Saturday, 30 September 2017 at 8:30 a.m. in connection with the reaction on social media after a report which was published on the Times Of Malta regarding a current case by Nado about an athlete of the Federation, the present clubs agreed and declare that :

1. They condemn the degrading statements and comments against the President and officials of the Federation;

2. They understand that the procedure explained to them and followed by the Federation in this case is one that follows the relevant Legal Notice in connection with NADO and the ethical approach in place in similar situations the Federation, more so that the case is still undergoing and the process has not yet been concluded.

SIGNED
St. Patrick's Sports Club
Mario Muscat

Mosta Cycling Club
Edward Enriquez

Pembroke Atleta Triathlon & Athletic Club
Victor Camilleri

Malta Youth Triathlon Academy - MYTA
Vanessa Woods

Birkirkara St. Joseph Sport Club
Euchar Camilleri

EXCUSED
Oswald Spiteri - Treasurer, MTF
Club Delegate Agones SFC (Joseph Zammit attended to part of the meeting)
Club Delegate Mellieha Athletic Club

END OF STATEMENT

​In response to the news that was published this morning on 'The Times Of Malta', regarding the suspension of a member and athlete following in an out-of-competition doping test, the Malta Triathlon Federation states that :

i. The MTF has always maintain a zero-tolerance towards any use of banned substances in sport. This was, is and will be the philosophy of the current administration;

ii. The MTF has followed the procedures as established in the Laws of Malta Act 455 and the Legal Notice 17/2015, and has immediately suspended the athlete upon receiving the first result from the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO);

iii. The MTF has always maintained that any official statement on such cases is to be issued when the whole process is finalised. This particular case has not yet been concluded.  Thus, the MTF is following the same procedures as established in previous such cases;

iv. During this process, the MTF has been in full collaboration with the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Malta, and will continue to do so to ensure a clean and fair sport;

v. The MTF encourages and commend its members and athletes who work hard and play by the rules in order to reach their full potential, in triathlon, in sport and in life;

v. The MTF encourages its athletes to ensure that they never, for any reason whatsoever, make use of any illicit or banned substance and to ensure that sports and in particular triathlon is preserved safe, clean and fair.

End of Statement

The Force 6 Northern winds played havoc on the MTF’s plans to host this National contest for the first time in Bugibba as the waves came in high and strong to batter the shoreline on race morning. However, after due deliberation and consideration, the Federation turned to its plan B and changed the venue to the tried-and-tested grounds of the Salini Bay on the Coast Road.

The race saw a very interesting mix of established multisport athletes and a healthy number of newcomers, with most of them being young athletes ready eager to test themselves.  The National Championship was raced on the World-Championship distances, that is two runs of 2.5KMs each with a swim of 1000 metres in between.

The race was oncea again supported by Gatorade Sports Drink and San Michel Water : official hydration suppliers for Triathlon Malta.
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Race-Report
From the very first seconds of the contest, reigning champion Shaun Galea went into the lead and established the fastest Run 1 of the lot covering the distance in 8 minutes and 34 seconds. He was closely followed by the formidable 15-year old Malcolm Vassallo, and Neil Markham. However, in the swimming section it was Latvian Stanislav Vaipans who rocketed in front and opened a gap on his closest rivals, young Bernard Sant and Graham Borg. But Galea once again was on fire on the run as the Pembroke Atleta competitor went on to claim his second Aquathlon national title in a time of 34 minutes and 50 seconds, just 9 seconds ahead of Vaipans in second and minute in front of Borg in third.

In the female race, Run 1 did not manage to differentiate the most anticipated contestants away from each other as Danica Bonello Spiteri, Celine Pace, Margaret Seguna and Hannah Pace entered into the Transition in just an 8 seconds gap. Pace managed to pull through and record the fastest swim of the lot, with Bonello Spiteri and Seguna trailing 7 seconds behind, but Bonello Spiteri of St. Patrick’s AC recorded the fastest Run 2 to seal her 100% winning claim on the Aquathlon National Championships in a time of 38 minutes and 15 seconds, followed by Pace in second and Seguna in third.

Age-Categories
In the Age-Categories, the Youth category was won by Jean Claude Randon of St. Patrick’s AC, while the Junior titles were won by Bernard Sant of B’Kara St. Joseph and Anjelika Ruggier. The Over 30 category went to James Cutajar and Pembroke Atleta’s Celine Pace, the Over 40 to Denise Tanner and Niki Bilocca, while the Over 50 titles went to ever-greens Angele Cortis and Brian Magri. In the Relay-Team categories, the title went to the duo composed of runner Jonathan Carter and swimmer Jake Diedo.

Youth Aquathlon Races
A full programme of Children and Youth Aquathlon races were held immediately after, which saw 40 athletes between 6 and 16 fighting it out in thrilling races. Overall, it was the Malta Youth Triathlon Academy – MYTA who garnered the biggest haul of titles by claiming 5 out of the 8 top spots available. Julienne Woods won Category 1, Luke Camilleri won Category 2, Thomas Woods JR. topped Category 3 while Gabriel Bongailas and Callie Hock won the top sports in Category 4, all running for the MYTA colours. Other successes were registered by Daniel Pauley of La Salle in Category 1, Zoe Ives in Category 2 and Charlotte Spencer in Category 3.

The next weeks will be very busy for the Malta Triathlon Federation as it will hold the National Sprint-Triathlon Championship on the 10 of September in collaboration with Birkirkara St. Joseph Sport Club, while the season will come to an end in the Grand Final of the Express Trailers National Triathlon Championship, which will be held in collaboration with Mosta Cycling Club on Sunday 8 October.
More details can be obtained from info@triathlonmalta.org and 79037933.