Paolo Barelli is expected to run for the FINA Presidency ©LEN

Julio Maglione has welcomed the challenge of Italy's Paolo Barelli, who has confirmed he is standing against the Uruguayan for President of the International Swimming Association (FINA). 

Barelli is currently President of the European Swimming Federation (LEN) and the honorary secretary of FINA.

He is also head of the Italian Swimming Federation. 

The 62-year-old Senator from Rome would appear to be a very strong candidate after easily beating Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB) President Erik van Heijningen by a 50-vote margin when challenged for a second term in the LEN job last year.

Barelli has not yet officially announced he is standing at the election, due to take place at the FINA Congress in Budapest on July 22, but it is widely known throughout the swimming world.

He has been in a series of disputes with other FINA officials over, what LEN claim, were attempts to interfere with appointments within the Federation.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport may be asked to adjudicate. 

"It is perfect, this is democracy in action," Maglione, who had been attending the Pan American Sports Organization General Assembly here, told insidethegames today.

"He is a good President of his National Federation.

"It is better that there is not only one candidate, for me it is better."

Julio Maglione, right, alongside International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach, has welcomed a decision from Italy's Paolo Barelli to stand against him for FINA President ©Getty Images
Julio Maglione, right, alongside International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach, has welcomed a decision from Italy's Paolo Barelli to stand against him for FINA President ©Getty Images

The 81-year-old Maglione has served two terms in office as FINA President since replacing Mustapha Larfaoui of Algeria in 2009.

Maglione was officially replaced by Chile's Neven Ilic as President of PASO yesterday. 

FINA have already changed a statute requiring that all members of its ruling Bureau must be under 80 in order to permit him to run again.

It had been widely expected that he would win comfortably.

Barelli is a former Olympic swimmer, who competed at Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976, and won a 4x100 metres freestyle relay bronze medal at the 1975 World Championships in Cali.

The election would not obviously represent a contest putting change versus continuity, however, with Barelli widely seen as a member of the sport's inner circle rather than an outsider.

His victory in the LEN race last year was attributed to the funding he was offering National Federations and he was reluctant to speak strongly about issues such as anti-doping.

The FINA Presidential election is expected to take place in July in Budapest before the World Championships.

insidethegames has contacted Barelli for a comment. 

Maglione told insidethegames that no other candidates have emerged.