Fed: Swim coach's life ban over clash with daughter overturned

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2007
Fed: Swim coach's life ban over clash with daughter overturned

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - The Ukrainian swimming coach banned for life from the sport
after an ugly row with his daughter at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne
will coach again within days.

News Limited newspapers reported today an international court ruled Mikhaylo Zubkov's
lifetime ban from swimming was too harsh.

Zubkov was caught on video violently arguing with his swimmer daughter Kateryna, 19,
on the pool deck at the FINA championships in Melbourne in March.

FINA's lifetime ban on Zubkov was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Switzerland, which capped the ban at eight months, expiring on December 27.

The court described the FINA ban as too harsh and inappropriate, given the circumstances.

Zubkov was defended by a Melbourne legal team headed by sports law specialist Paul
Horvath and lawyer Paul Hayes.

Zubkov said the decision was a "huge relief".

"I feel my name has been cleared," he told News Ltd.

Kateryna said she was delighted her father could resuming coaching her and supporting
her in competitions.

"I am very happy. I can now concentrate on the Olympics."

AAP jrd/rs

KEYWORD: ZUBKOV

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.