Positive doping cases in Maltese sport have risen markedly in recent months, according to Dr Sandro Camilleri, Director of Integrity at the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AiMS), who has appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could help expose abuse and protect clean competition.
Speaking in an interview with journalist Christopher Francalanza for Malta Sport, Camilleri said the authority is now uncovering far more cases than in previous years after changing its methods and adopting a more targeted and intelligence-led approach.
“At times we used to speak about three or four positive cases in a year,” Camilleri said. “Since we took the reins in our hands and changed the modalities, working with different systems of targeted testing and intelligence gathering, we are seeing results. In these last months since I became director, we have had eight positive cases, and in these six months, we are close to fourteen cases in total.”
His comments point to a significant increase in detections across the local sporting landscape, with Camilleri insisting that the rise is linked to stronger enforcement and more effective testing strategies.
He explained that the authority is not only finding cases involving performance-enhancing substances, but also athletes testing positive for what he described as social drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, both of which remain prohibited in sport.
“In sport, cocaine and cannabis are illegal,” Camilleri said. “Even if cannabis may be allowed in certain recreational contexts under Maltese law, in sport, if you test positive, it is illegal.”
Camilleri also underlined the seriousness of sanctions, noting that an athlete who tests positive can be suspended from all sporting activity, and not only from the sport in which the test was carried out.
“If an athlete is suspended, he cannot participate in any sport, not even training,” he said. “We are speaking about all sports, not only one sport.”
He referred specifically to regatta, one of Malta’s most traditional sports, confirming that positive cases have also emerged there, including close to major competitions.
“We had positive cases in regatta as well,” Camilleri said. “People themselves came to us, and from here I appeal to all viewers not to be afraid to approach us. The anonymity is absolute. Everyone who comes to us can do so anonymously, and we have received a lot of information that has done a lot of good.”
Camilleri was keen to stress that no athlete should be judged before the disciplinary process is concluded, even if a temporary suspension is imposed following a positive test.
“No one is guilty until the whole process is concluded,” he said. “The authority never published names at that stage. There may be speculation, because Malta is small, but not from the authority.”
He also highlighted a rehabilitative route for first-time cases involving non-performance related substances, explaining that athletes who admit the offence and follow a support programme may benefit from reduced sanctions.
“If it is a first time and the athlete admits, he can get three months if he chooses to attend a course,” Camilleri said. “From here I thank Sedqa. We are working together because we want to help the athlete if he has a problem.”
At the same time, he made it clear that repeat offenders face much harsher consequences and said the authority’s priority remains the protection of clean athletes.
“Those clean and honest athletes deserve that they are not excluded by someone who abused steroids, drugs or other products and took their place,” he said. “We are there to clean Maltese sport as much as possible.”
Camilleri also revealed that the authority is handling ongoing investigations in other areas of integrity, including match manipulation, while working closely with other entities such as the Malta Gaming Authority and the police.
“Yes, there are investigations underway,” he said. “These things are reserved, especially when they are at delicate stages, but yes, together with other authorities, we are investigating.”
He warned that anyone with knowledge of possible match fixing has a legal obligation to report it.
“If a person in Malta has an indication that there is manipulation in any sporting event, that person has fourteen days to inform the Executive Police,” Camilleri said. “If you know and fail to report it, you yourself are risking criminal consequences.”
The interview also touched on safeguarding, bullying, racism and abuse in youth sport, with Camilleri urging parents, athletes and coaches to contact the authority whenever concerns arise.
“Our message is simple: come to us,” he said. “If there are problems, if parents notice something with their children, if there is bullying, threats or abuse, come to us.”
Camilleri concluded with a direct appeal for greater public trust and cooperation, saying that many of the authority’s recent breakthroughs were only possible because people dared to speak up.
“Our appeal is to come to us,” he said. “Those who already showed trust in us helped us reach where we have reached in many cases in a short time. Let us continue to clean Maltese sport together from every abuse.”
Should anyone need to pass information to AiMS regarding any illegalities in sport, one should on on their website: https://aims.org.mt/.
