Malta’s national table tennis body has been suspended by sporting authorities following a wave of serious allegations, including financial irregularities and safeguarding failures.Sources confirmed that the Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA) was suspended by the Maltese Olympic Committee, effectively freezing its official status within Malta’s sporting structure as reported by Times of Malta.The fallout is already being felt beyond Malta. Both the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) and the International Table Tennis Federation are understood to be scrutinising the situation, with Maltese athletes reportedly impacted in junior competitions and development pathways.A report submitted to authorities outlines multiple governance concerns. Among them are claims that membership fees were collected in cash despite statutes requiring payments via bank transfer or cheque, as well as allegations that members and parents were pressured to sign petitions tied to internal leadership disputes.However, the most serious claims relate to safeguarding.Sources familiar with the case allege that a former committee member was accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour in a public setting during a 2024 sporting activity at the University of Malta.The individual was reportedly handed a lifetime ban by the association after admitting the conduct during internal disciplinary proceedings.But the case remains unresolved. The sanction was appealed, yet more than a year later, an appeals board has reportedly not been appointed by the MTTA. In the meantime, sources claim the matter was never reported to police and that the individual continues to attend a table tennis academy frequented by minors.Separate concerns have also emerged around international participation, including accreditation issues during the European Youth Championships in Ostrava, which allegedly placed Maltese officials in a difficult position with organisers.What do you make of this?•