3 former S'pore coaches to be charged for falsifying fin-swimming results for 2023 SEA Games selection

Three former coaches from the Singapore Underwater Federation (SUF) will be charged in court on Mar. 12 for their suspected involvement in falsifying results used for the selection of fin-swimming athletes for the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Fin-swimming is an underwater sport in which athletes swim either on the water surface or underwater using monofins or normal fins (known within the sport as bifins or stereofins).

Six athletes were selected to participate as a result of the false results

In a news release on Mar. 11, police revealed they received a report from the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) about the suspected submission of falsified fin-swimming race timing results by SUF.

In January 2023, the three former coaches, aged 33, 35 and 36, allegedly conspired to submit a document containing the falsified results to SNOC as part of an appeal.

This resulted in six SUF athletes being selected for the Games, who would otherwise not have qualified.

The three men will be charged with suspected abetment by conspiracy to commit forgery for the purpose of cheating.

If convicted, they could each face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine.

Police said they take a serious view of such fraudulent activities and will not hesitate to take firm action against offenders in accordance with the law.

According to The Straits Times, SNOC and national sports agency Sport Singapore released a joint statement in March 2025 that SUF had submitted falsified results for the women's 4x200m relay surface event for the 2023 SEA Games.

Four months later, the two organisations convened a committee of inquiry to investigate the allegations.

Singapore sent 11 fin-swimmers to the Games in 2023, including the relay team.

They finished last among four teams in the women’s 4x200m surface relay final.

Under the SNOC's selection criteria, athletes who meet or exceed the benchmark set by the third-placed finisher in an event at the 2021 SEA Games would be considered for selection for the 2023 edition.

For team events, they have to be ranked third among the SEA Games countries.

Athletes who fall marginally short of the qualifying standard but demonstrate the potential to match or exceed it by the time of the Games may also be considered.

Top photo from SNOC/Facebook