Puerto Rico Swimming Federation Banned from CCCAN Competition Until $57K Debt Repaid

The Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation (CCCAN) suspended the Puerto Rico Swimming Federation (FPN) on Wednesday for failure to pay El Salvador $57,535 for participation at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games last summer.

Puerto Rico is now banned from taking part in CCCAN events until the debt is repaid in full. The 2024 CCCAN Championships are less than two months away, with the pool swimming portion scheduled from June 14-23 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Fernando Delgado was elected to a four-year term leading the FPN back in 2020. The man who signed off on the suspension, CCCAN president Felix Calderon, also hails from Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico’s debt is based upon hotel, meal, and local transportation costs that FPN argues it never incurred because its delegation had its own arrangements for the event.

CCCAN bylaws mention the daily fee, the summons for the Championships does not indicate the obligation to stay in the Games village. The CCCAN is not recognized by World Aquatics, and the FPN remains in good standing with PanAms Aquatics and World Aquatics despite their dispute with the CCCAN.

Puerto Rico swimmers won nine medals (three gold) at the 2023 CCCAN Championships in El Salvador, finishing 5th in the overall medal table.

Ohio State graduate and current Tennessee pro Kristen Romano could be among those impacted by the FPN’s suspension if the organization can’t repay its debt in time for the 2024 CCCAN Championships. The Olympic qualifying period ends June 23, which means that the CCAN Championships will serve as one last chance to punch a ticket to Paris.

Romano posted a personal-best 200 IM time (2:13.33) at the 2024 World Championships in February that was just two tenths shy of the Olympic ‘B’ cut. She won the 200 back (2:12.56), 200 IM (2:13.74), and 400 IM (4:45.47) at the Central American and Caribbean Games last summer.