Eleven Maltese water polo players and one member of coaching staff have been sanctioned after an international integrity investigation found they breached betting rules.The joint investigation, led by the Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) alongside the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA), the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports, European Aquatics, the Malta Gaming Authority and the International Olympic Committee, concluded that the individuals had violated rules prohibiting athletes and support staff from betting on aquatics events.However, investigators stressed that no evidence of match-fixing or manipulation was found.Authorities also confirmed that none of the sanctioned individuals had placed bets on matches in which they themselves were competing, dispelling earlier concerns that surfaced when the investigation first became public.Among those sanctioned are national team players Jeremy Abela, Ben Plumpton, Jake Bonavia, Jake Tanti and Liam Galea, who received four-month bans with three months suspended, meaning they will remain ineligible until the end of July. Six others, including players Kyle Navarro, Alec Fenech, Aiden Muscat, Dean Bugeja and Jacob Saliba, as well as technical staff member Matthew Pace, received shorter sanctions that were fully or partially suspended.In addition to the suspensions, all 12 individuals must complete integrity education and awareness programmes over the next five years.The investigation first made headlines earlier this year amid reports that members of Malta’s national water polo team were being investigated over suspicious betting activity during the European Championships in Belgrade.While speculation initially centred on possible match-fixing, Wednesday’s findings officially ruled out any manipulation of results, confirming instead that the breaches related solely to betting rules.What do you make of this issue?•