Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Abdulla Rafiu has said sports associations are improving their financial management following measures introduced by the Government to address risks in their financial operations that could create opportunities for corruption.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) began a study in 2024 to identify corruption risks within the sports sector.
The Ministry of Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness has since introduced several measures to strengthen the management of sports associations. The Ministry said one of the main issues identified when reviewing their operations was poor financial management.
The ACC report also identified the failure to audit sports associations as one of the major issues in the sector.
The Ministry said it has now addressed the issue after associations raised concerns over difficulties in securing auditors. Following discussions between the Ministry and the Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC), auditors are now being arranged for sports associations through the MOC.
The Ministry has also changed the way it disburses funds to sports associations, with funding now released quarterly. Associations that fail to provide details of how their allocated funds were spent will not receive funding for the following quarter.
Minister Rafiu said strengthening the management of the sports sector cannot be achieved through regulations alone. He said it is also important to raise awareness of integrity among those managing sports organisations, as well as coaches and athletes.
To support this, the Ministry has begun conducting a series of specialised training programmes aimed at improving governance and providing training in financial management. Minister Rafiu said the programmes are being carried out under the supervision of the Commissioner of Sports, with strong cooperation from sports associations.
Minister Rafiu added that the Government aims to provide young people with a transparent and trustworthy sporting environment and said the Government would continue to support the sports sector.