Samoa’s sports governing body has suspended the Samoa Triathlon Federation following its de-registration by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (M.C.I.L.) while expressing concern at "recent media publications".

The Samoa Association of Sports & National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) – in a letter dated 19 July 2023 addressed to S.T.F. executives Seti Afoa and Arthur Mulitalo – was critical of “recent media publications” that it said portrayed the internal crisis as an “S.T.F. versus S.A.S.N.O.C. dispute” and felt was unfair and unwarranted.

The three-page letter – which was signed by S.A.S.N.O.C. Vice President Leasi John Galuvao – put forward 17 points to Mr. Afoa and Mr. Mulitalo that were the sports governing body’s main concerns about the leadership struggle within the federation. 

Following confirmation from the M.C.I.L. that the S.T.F. has been “struck off” the Ministry’s register of incorporated societies, Leasi said the federation’s deregistration meant that it failed to comply with Article 4(b) of the S.A.S.N.O.C. Constitution and is therefore suspended.

“In light of all that has come before S.A.S.N.O.C. and the S.A.S.N.O.C. Board and having thoroughly debated and discussed in its Special Board Meeting held on 7th July 2023 at its headquarters at Tuanaimato, the S.A.S.N.O.C. Board has unanimously resolved as follows: (i) Effectively immediately Samoa Triathlon Federation (S.T.F.) is suspended from being an affiliated sport of SASNOC,” read Leasi’s letter.

The S.A.S.N.O.C. Chief Executive Officer, Tuala Mathew Vaea confirmed the suspension of the S.T.F. on Wednesday this week when questioned by this newspaper.

"Yes, I can confirm the decision. The parties involved were informed last week after the meeting,” he said. “Everything else that you need about the decision is in the letter from S.A.S.N.O.C. to Lani and Seti." 

The suspension of the federation follows the convening of a special general meeting on 15 June 2023 at the S.A.S.N.O.C. headquarters, where a vote of confidence was moved against the then-S.T.F. president Mr. Afoa and his executive with 46–1 voting in favour of their removal. An election that followed on the same night saw the election of a new executive led by Arthur Mulitalo as president, which Mr. Afoa has refused to accept leading to the current impasse.

Three days after the suspension of the S.T.F. by the sports governing body, Mr. Afoa emailed Mr. Mulitalo and his executive on Saturday 22 July 2023 and attached e-copies of the S.T.F. annual accounts for 2020–2023 and proposed a three-stage process for the stalemate to be resolved. 

The first stage was for the Facebook page name to be changed to “Apia Triathlon Club”, the membership fees to be deposited into the S.T.F. ANZ bank account, agreement from everyone to proceed with the re-registration of the STF and plan for an A.G.M. [annual general meeting] to be convened on 31 August 2023. 

The second stage – according to email correspondence sighted by this newspaper – is for all parties to meet on Monday 24 July 2023 to plan for the A.G.M. and finalise the federation’s registration, Lani Young to “apologise to S.A.S.N.O.C. for the public attacks and bringing the sport and federation into disrepute”, a full disclosure of all audit accounts and bank statements, and for “Triathlon Samoa to discuss with S.T.F. an apology for the public attacks” on the S.T.F. Board and federation.”

A day later on Sunday 23 July 2023, Lani Young, the S.T.F. Team Manager who is part of Mr. Mulitalo’s executive, responded to Mr. Afoa in an email detailing federation finances including the records of the cash on hand and expenses for 2023, while asking questions about the audits for 2020–2022 and pointing out expenses on behalf of the S.T.F. which they do not have records of.

Mr. Afoa responded to the email query from Mrs. Young on the same day, explaining how the federation funds were expended and asking that the two disputing parties meet to resolve their differences while emphasising that the Facebook name change is a must and Mrs. Young should still apologise to S.A.S.N.O.C. and a new A.G.M. be convened to elect a “new executive”.

On Monday this week, a day after Mr. Afoa emailed her re-emphasising his conditions and to meet, Mrs. Young responded via email, saying: “Our group discussed your proposal. Our answer to all of it is no. Accept the vote from the special general meeting, listen to the members, step aside.”

Responding to questions on Friday, sent by Samoa Observer through email, Mrs. Young said they are keen on mediation but copies of the audited accounts for the periods 2015–2022 needed to be made available first.

“We were eager for mediation and requested first, copies of all the audited accounts from 2015 to 2022, as well as the bank statement for this year with details of spending,” she said. “All members have the right to this financial accountability. Even the treasurer of S.T.F. Susie Poort does not have access to the bank account. 

“Seti has only sent audits for the last 3 years and wants his demands met before he will provide the others.”

When asked by this newspaper if there are other options that they are considering including legal action, Mrs. Young said: "We have engaged legal counsel Taulapapa Brenda Latu to advise us on our path forward."

Here is the full S.A.S.N.O.C. letter dated 19 July 2023 addressed to S.T.F. executives Seti Afoa and Arthur Mulitalo advising of the suspension of the federation.