Challenger Calls For Triathlon Fed Changes

(ATR) Triathlon Denmark president Mads Freund says it’s time that World Triathlon "recreate a link of trust between our members and our umbrella organization" and he believes he is the presidential candidate to do it.

Freund is the only challenger to incumbent Marisol Casado, who is running for a fourth four-year term. She ran unopposed in winning a third term in 2016.

World Triathlon, which changed its name from International Triathlon Union on Oct. 1, will hold a virtual election during its Congress on Nov. 29.

In a statement to triathlon federation stakeholders on Thursday, Freund wrote about the two main planks for his campaign. One is to change the political structure of World Triathlon to give more power to the continental associations. The second is to ensure fair and and transparent electoral practices.

Freund says the current electoral system "technically allows the authorities of our sport to use the resources of our federation for their personal campaign.

"Such practices divert World Triathlon from its objective, which is to develop our sport and to support our national federations, be it personnel, travel or other financial sources, an election should never deprive our federations of their resources.

"That is why Triathlon Denmark has drafted a resolution to ensure that good governance practices are implemented not only in the electoral process but also in the future."

Casado has served as the federation president since 2008. She is the only woman leading an international summer sport federation and one of only two, along with Kate Caithness of the World Curling Federation, in the entire Olympic program.

She won election to the IOC in 2010, with her membership tied to her continuing to serve as the president of World Triathlon.

Homepage photo: Max Pixel

Written by Gerard Farek

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